Heroes Hall, Malacañan Palace
September 26, 2016

“My government is not into business of making mummies,” said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, referring to wrapped dead bodies thrown at the streets, when he addressed the new officers and members of the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC), Malacañang Cameramen Association (MCA), and the Presidential Photojournalists Association (PPA), in an oath taking ceremony held at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang.

Talking about the issue of extrajudicial killings in the country amidst his administration’s progressing war against illegal drugs, the President mentioned that he is open for an investigation, but it should be done under the Philippine jurisdictional requirements.

“I will show them Philippine penal laws and the Constitution… If there’s no offense stated in our laws, then no country can say it’s a crime,” he said.

President Duterte added that he would also demand for the investigation of certain countries and organizations should they raise extrajudicial killing issues against him.

“I’m staking my life, my honor, and the Presidency…Deep down, I knew na ako lang makasolba nito,” he said.

Among the new officers who took their oath of office are Ms. Jocelyn Montemayor-Reyes as the MPC President, Mr. Ralph Eric Dizon as the MCA President, and Ms. Marianita “Jack” Burgos as the PPA President. Also present during the event is Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

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