The French Embassy in Manila released a statement correcting President Rodrigo Duterte’s earlier remarks about how suspected criminals in France are detained indefinitely and presumed guilty until proven innocent.
[ads2]
“We have to point out that, as in the Philippines, the presumption of innocence until proven guilty is at the core of the French judicial system, based on the principles enshrined in the French Declaration of Human and Civic Rights of August 26, 1789,” the Embassy of France in Manila said in a statement.
“France strongly believes in the importance of the rule of law, due process and respect for human rights in all countries, including the Philippines.”
On August 28, Duterte said that French laws presume one is guilty until proven innocent.
He made the remark during a speech slamming UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Agnes Callamard, a French citizen.
[ads1]
“French? T*** i**, umuwi siya doon. They can detain a person almost indefinitely, under French law. And the French law says you are guilty, and you have to prove your innocence. Here, the presumption is you are innocent,” Duterte said.
According to the French Declaration of Human and Civic Rights, “No man can be accused, arrested, or detained, except in the cases determined by the law and according to the forms it has prescribed.”
“Those who procure, expedite, execute, or cause arbitrary orders to be executed, ought to be punished.”
Netizens were quick to react to the French Embassy’s official statement correcting Duterte’s wrong assumption.
Boycott French fries?
Duterte knows more about French laws than the French?
“Our apologies, France.”
Dutz4Layp and a fist bump
Duterte hurled expletives at Callamard after he was asked by a reporter on what he thought of Callamard wishing Kian delos Santos’ death to be the last death in the government’s war on drugs.
Callamard tweeted her message of condolences to Kian’s family on August 26.
“My heart-felt condolences to #kian family and to all families victimized by this cruel war. #Makehisdeaththelast #Philippines,” she wrote.
My heart-felt condolences to #kian family and to all families victimized by this cruel war. #Makehisdeaththelast #Philippines
— Agnes Callamard (@AgnesCallamard) August 26, 2017
Sources: ( news.abs-cbn.com , interaksyon.com )
[ads3]
