Malacanang on Thursday reacted to Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte’s claim that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is lenient to criminals and crimes in the country.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro was resolute that during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte, the crime rate was higher compared to the crime rate in the current administration.
“Ang tanong natin, saan niya ba nakuha ang mga data, yung mga facts na binabanggit niya na lenient ang bagong pamahalaan o ang kasalukuyang administrasyon patungkol sa paggawa ng krimen? Sinabi na po natin ito, panahon po ni dating pangulong Duterte mas mataas po crime rate kung ikukumpara po sa panahon ng kasalukuyang adminstrayon. Yan po ay base sa statistics,” Castro said in a live streamed press conference.
Last Sunday, the mayor pronounced in his podcast “Basta Dabawenyo” that there is a possibility that criminals now are encouraged to commit crimes because the Marcos administration and the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), General Rommel Marbil, are lenient with criminals following the robbery of Hannah’s Jewelry and Pawnshop along Ilustre Street, Davao City on February 26, 2025.
“Because alam naman nila na hindi naman instrikto yung Presidente,” Duterte said.
In November last year, Marbil pronounced that not all drug users are addicts, nor do they want to be addicted, and that many use drugs to extend their working hours.
“So kahit pa man we are doing everything that we can to secure Davao City pero if yung PNP chief magsasalita na ang droga pampagising, what can you expect kung paano mag behave yung mga criminals right now? It is very encouraging for them na nakikita nila na hindi talaga istrikto yung Presidente natin pagdating sa peace and order. Maya’t maya na lang may makikita ka, yung mga matatanda na tao, yung mga pinapatay nila pinuputulan pa ng ulo tapos bangag nahuhuli, eh its all documented,” Duterte said.
Castro urged the mayor that before making accusations and allegations regarding the alleged leniency of the current administration on crimes, he should first look into it, study it carefully, and talk to the lawyers about it.
“Seguro po bago po magbintang at magparatang si Mayor Baste patungkol sa diumanong leniency ng pangulo ng kasalukuyang administasyon patungkol sa pagsasagawa ng krimen tignan niya po muna at araling mabuti, makipag usap sa mga abogado para malaman kung ano ang totoong record, mas mataas po ang crime rate sa panahon ng kanyang ama,” she said.
