Malacañang yesterday left to the authorities the arrest of critics of President Duterte and his long-time aide Sen. Bong Go online but assured the public that the justice system in the country works.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after the Philippine National Police arrested last Wednesday a 41-year-old salesman in Butuan City for calling Duterte on Facebook “crazy” and that Go will supposedly come in to save the day.
In an interview over State-run PTV-4, Roque said while it was up to authorities to go after who they think are violating the law, other government agencies will eventually step up to correct their wrong judgment.
“We leave it to authorities pero kapag meron pang maling ginawa ang otoridad ay kino-correct naman po ng ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno gaya ng piskalya. So we will let the process proceed,” he said.
“Gaya ng nabalitaan ko ‘yung isa yata na naaresto eh nagkaroon ng order ang piskalya to release dahil hindi daw tama ‘yung warrantless arrest. So sa amin po, nagpapakita po ‘yan na gumagana naman ang ating sistema,” he added.
Roque was referring to the arrest of a public school teacher by the National Bureau of Investigation for a social media post offering a P50-million reward to anyone who would kill Duterte.
The Department of Justice said the warrantless arrest would have been invalid but was eventually “cured” after the teacher admitted to his actions.
Meanwhile, Roque said he will ask Philippine National Police chief Police Gen. Archie Gamboa to look into reports that a factory worker who violated quarantine protocols was “beaten black and blue” by police officers in General Trias, Cavite on May 12. (Argyll Geducos)
