"x x x.
Old age may be a disadvantage to some but for President Rodrigo Duterte, it is a means to avoid imprisonment.
The tough-talking Duterte said that under the law, prisoners who are 70 years old or above should be released.
“I don’t care about human rights. I said I have a problem to solve. I must first solve the problems of the country. I am already 71 years old and according to the Revised Penal Code, you have to be released once you reach 70,” the president said.
“If I order the killing of someone, you cannot arrest me. I have immunity. I have this pardoning power and if I order you to carry it out, I will pardon you,” he added.
Duterte said he would be 77 by the time he steps down.
“After the end of my term, I’ll be 77. Where will you place me?” the chief executive said.
“Wala silang laban. (They cannot use anything against me).”
Under the Revised Penal Code, one of the circumstances that may mitigate criminal liability is when the offender is under 18 years of age or over 70 years. The same law states that any convict who is not a habitual criminal, shall be pardoned at the age of 70 if he shall have already served out his original sentence, or when he shall complete it after reaching the said age unless his conduct makes him unworthy of clemency.
Duterte has promised to kill drug lords, saying they no longer deserve to live for destroying the country and the youth.
x x x."
