Obstruction of justice redefined

President Duterte was heard and seen on national TV and reported in the print media as having instructed law enforcers “to shoot human rights officials if they obstruct justice.”

Presidential Decree No. 1829, circa 1981, defines “obstruction of justice” as follows: preventing witnesses from testifying, altering evidence, harboring suspects, using an alias to evade justice, delaying criminal proceedings, submitting false documents in such proceedings, soliciting benefits or giving threats to keep a witness from testifying, giving false information to mislead criminal prosecution.

This list is but a summary, without prejudice to the nuances of each act punishable with imprisonment of up to six years.

President Duterte seemed to have unilaterally modified that law by now saying that if any “human rights” officials “interfere” with police operations and investigation, there’s no more need to prosecute them under that Marcos decree. Just “shoot them” on the spot! Thus, by Mr. Duterte’s decree, it’s the death penalty for them.

Of course, Malacañang stooges will be quick to “interpret” what the President said as “only if those officials draw their guns first.” It is a fact of life in these islands that not a few policemen are “trigger-happy.” Are they able to finesse what the President plainly says as against all the nonsense his “interpreters” are dishing out?

What the heck is happening to this country?

ROMANO MORANO MONTENEGRO, [email protected]