By Jillian Marielle Tiraña

PHOTO: Philippine Star

President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that he threatened to kill his former spokesperson Harry Roque over extrajudicial killings comments in a speech at the PDP-Laban campaign rally on Tuesday.

In his message at the said event in Cainta, Rizal, Duterte opened up about his interaction with Roque, who is currently running as a senator in the 2022 National Elections.

According to the president, Roque was once a critic of his extrajudicial killings activities during his term as Davao City Mayor. 

“Noong nakita ko siya, sabi ko, ‘Roque, kung hindi ka maghinto diyan sa daldal mo ng extrajudicial killing, p***** i** papatayin kita. L****. Uunahin kita.’” The president quoted. “Pero hindi naman. Sabi niya, ‘Issue lang ‘yan, Mayor, kung ano lang nga ang dapat marinig ng tao na katotohanan.”

Duterte reportedly commended his former spokesperson's statement, saying he salutes him as long as he continues to do that.

In 2015, Duterte confirmed his connections to the Davao Death Squad that was responsible for the deaths of more than a thousand criminals.


Edited by Christine Gaile Dimatatac