Malacañang on Friday criticized Honeylet Avanceña, the common-law wife of former president Rodrigo Duterte, over her recent remarks regarding the spate of killings in the country, stressing that such serious matters should not be treated as a joke.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro appealed to Avanceña not to turn the situation into a joke, emphasizing that lives are at stake and some have already been lost.
She stressed that the matter is serious and should not be treated lightly or used to ridicule the government.
"Hindi natin malaman bakit ganoon ang naging attitude ni Ms. Honeylet. Parang ikinatutuwa pa ba niya na may mga ganitong sitwasyon sa bansa," said Castro.
"Hindi ba dapat bilang Pilipino, nagkakaisa tayo upang ang bansa natin ay umangat hindi para lamang para sa taumbayan at para na rin mapakita natin sa buong mundo na ang Pilipinas, at ang mga Filipino ay nagkakaisa," she added.
Castro urged Avanceña and other Duterte allies not to stir conflict through provocative statements, stressing that such remarks only contribute to division and are unhelpful in addressing national concerns.
Moreover, the Palace official emphasized that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration strongly condemn every crime that occurs in the country.
She noted that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has already formed a Special Investigation Task Force to focus on the case involving the kidnapped and slain Chinese-Filipino steel magnate.
"At itong si Police General Elmer Ragay, a former Director of the Anti-Kidnapping Group ay na-relieve na po dahil hindi po nasisiyahan sa pagkakataong ito sa kaniyang performance," said Castro.
"Kaya po ang itinalaga ay si Police Colonel David Poklay na dati pong Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, kasama po siya diyan dati," she added.
Castro then assured the public that the government will not turn a blind eye to such incidents.
She emphasized that justice will be served to those who deserve it and that the administration is committed to ensuring that what happened to the victims of extrajudicial killings will not happen again.
"Kaya muli, pinapanawagan po natin kay Ms. Honeylet Avanceña: Huwag na po sana mamutawi sa inyong bibig ang mga ganitong klaseng pananalita dahil hindi po rin natin gugustuhing i-congratulate ang dating Pangulong Duterte sa mga nagawa pong EJK dahil po buhay po ang pinag-uusapan dito," Castro said in closing.
While in The Hague, Netherlands, Avanceña "congratulated" Marcos during an ambush interview, commenting on the present state of peace and order in the country.
“Congratulations sa Pilipinas, may kinidnap at pinatay nanaman. Congratulations. Ganyan ang gusto niyo… Congratulations again, congratulations BBM," Avanceña stated.
