254TH PERSUASIVE APPEAL_14JULY2017_TO THE SCP JUSTICES: DO YOU KNOW JUSTICE DERISNOLO KAHITMERON

SENATORS , GO  ASK THE SC,  WHETHER THEY CAN STOP DUTERTE FROM  OFFERING PARDON TO "KILLER COPS"?   SORRY  SENATORS THEY CAN NOT.  BUT WHY? "There is no law prohibiting the president from granting pardon to convicted criminals".   By SC Justice Derisnolo Kahitmeron  Senators slam Duterte for offering pardon to 'killer cops' article from  Duterte said in his speech during the People's Day Celebration in Socorro, Oriental Mindoro yesterday that he will support policemen who "have been charged with murder" because he ordered them to kill if there was resistance. "Iyan ang order ko. Pag 'yan ang sinusunod ng pulis pati military, huwag kayong matakot ako [That is my order. If the police and military obey that, do not be afraid], I and I alone will be liable for that. They are just obeying my order. So any policeman or military man charged for killing those bastards, they will have my protection," Duterte said. Eighteen members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of Region 8 (CIDG-8) led by Supt. Marvin Marcos were charged with murder on March 21 for killing Albuerra Mayor Rolando Espinosa. Duterte reiterated his office can pardon and grant amnesty, adding he is ready to be liable for any charges filed towards the police. Senators Grace Poe and Risa Hontiveros raised their concerns with the President's exercise of his powers. "While the presidential power to pardon convicted criminals is beyond question, the statement of the President in this particular instance in unfortunate as it counters all our efforts to strengthen our legal institutions to ensure that only the guilty are prosecuted and convicted after a judicial process," Poe said. Poe warned such a statement would send a wrong signal to law enforcers that they can ignore rule of law as they can be pardoned anyway. She added the public would be discouraged to pursue cases filed against the police because they will immediately have the support of the president. Hontiveros said it was wrong for Duterte to publicly announce his support for the police. "With this announcement, the President once again tries to prop up the government's widely discredited, corrupt and abusive war on drugs," she said. Hontiveros added she supports the findings of Sen. Ping Lacson's committee on public order and dangerous drugs, that Espinosa's death was pre-meditated. ATTENTION SENATOR RICHARD "DICK" GORDON CHAIRMAN Accountability of Public Officers & Investigations (Blue Ribbon) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE CHAIRMAN GENERAL RONALD DELA ROSA PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE CHIEF