MANILA – Malacañang is unfazed by the plan of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) to sue President Rodrigo Duterte for human rights violations once he steps down from office in 2022.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Monday the NUPL is very much welcome to file the case against the Chief Executive as stated in the Philippine Constitution.
“It’s a free country. Everyone is entitled to file any case against whomsoever they think that has violated the law and let the courts decide the validity of such complaint,” Panelo said.
“The only [worry] that the President has is the sufferings of the people. That’s why he does a lot of things to make lives comfortable for them,” added the Presidential spokesperson.
The NUPL has said over the weekend that its members will be preparing a series of criminal cases against those responsible for extrajudicial killings and other abuses, particularly Duterte.
“The justice system in the Philippines is unable to provide legal remedies to victims of EJK and other human rights violations because as President Duterte claims, he is immune from suit,” NUPL national chairperson Neri Colmenares said.
“President Duterte cannot even promise members of the police and military that they will not go to prison because even President Duterte himself cannot escape criminal accountability once he steps down from office,” he added./PN