Zamboanga City (CNN Philippines) — The proposed United Nation’s investigation on the spate of summary killings in the Philippines looks like it is a stalemate, as President Rodrigo Duterte refuses to accept the UN counterproposal.
Both parties say they are not giving in on which terms should be followed in the conduct of the probe.
Duterte on Saturday shot down the counterproposal of United Nations special rapporteur Agnes Callamard.
The President insisted to conduct a public debate with Callamard, one of three demands he made for the U.N. investigation to push through. Callamard earlier rejected Duterte’s conditions.
She suggested on Friday to hold a private debriefing with President Duterte and then a joint press conference – where the President can rebut – after the preliminary findings.
Read: U.N. special rapporteur: All killings by the police should be probed
When asked if he is open to adjust to Callamard’s counterproposal, Duterte was firm in his stand.
“No, I want it discussed in public so she can state her case. Ganun ginawa mo then I can refute her. Kasi tatanungin ko lang siya, where did you get that garbage that – anong extrajudicial killing?” he said.
[Translation: No, I want it discussed in public so she can state her case, then I can refute her. Because if I just ask her where she got that garbage that – what extrajudicial killing?]
Callamard also said she cannot abide by the three conditions set by the government as these are not consistent with the code of conduct for special rapporteurs. She added the results of the investigation should be highly confidential.
Read: U.N. special rapporteur rejects government conditions
The President also took the opportunity to lash out at critics of his war on the drugs.
The latest to draw his ire is the global movement, Amnesty International, which are among a growing network of human rights groups denouncing the wave of summary killings since Duterte was elected into power.
The President, once again, did not mince words, and called the group a bunch of “idiots.”
Read: Yasay says invitation to UN rapporteur still stands, but she must apologize
CNN Philippines senior correspondent David Santos contributed to this report.
