By Rosemarie A. Zamora

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday, Oct. 31, said he would “leave it to the independent agencies” to conduct their probe on allegations against his son, Davao City Vice-Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte, and son-in-law Manases “Mans” R. Carpio.

“Who would believe me if I investigate my son and my son-in-law?” he said on arriving in Davao City Tuesday night from his working visit in Japan.

“Ikaw, (You), can you investigate your mother or father? I leave it to the independent agencies — there’s the (Commission on) Human Rights, which is making all the noise, and they have the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation),” he added.

Mr. Duterte’s remarks came after detained senator, Leila M. de Lima, challenged Mr. Duterte to investigate real drug smugglers in his own household. Messrs. Duterte and Carpio have been linked by another opposition lawmaker, Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV, to the so-called Davao Group said to be involved in smuggling and the drug trade, which both have denied in a Senate inquiry.

Mr. Duterte also said, “If they are really guilty, then so be it. ‘Di ba sinabi ko na sa inyo noong mayor ako? Anong order ko sa pulis? “Barilin ninyo maski anak ko.” And that statement remains. Barilin mo.” (Didn’t I tell you when I was still mayor? What was my order to the police? Shoot them, even my children. And that statement remains. Shoot them.)

“‘Pag naggamit ng droga o nakahawak ng droga, barilin mo. Extrajudicial killing, if you want. And I can understand,” the President also said. (If they use drugs or hold drugs, shoot them. Extrajudicial killing, if you want. And I can understand.)

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