President Rodrigo Duterte still believes the police version of the events leading to the killing of former Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa “even if it is not true.”

“Itong sa (In the) police Albuera, of course I will believe the police, even if it is not true. I will believe the police and you the military guys kasi magkasama tayo sa gobyerno ako ‘yong (because we are all together in this government and I am the) commander-in-chief,” Duterte said in his speech during the awarding ceremony of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines Golf Tournament on Tuesday.

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Duterte said he would protect the police in his administration’s drive against illegal drugs.

“Public interest says that I should support the police and I should believe them. Now you have a story there, we’ll provide to the court,” he said.

But despite defending the police involved in the killing, Duterte said “we have to face the music.”

“Now if I really wanted to fix the case, the Justice Department is under me,” he added.

“Tingnan labas nila (National Bureau of Investigation) (Look at what the National Bureau of Investigation came up with), it was a rubout so we face the music,” he said.

The NBI earlier released findings of their investigation, which showed that Espinosa and another inmate were victims of police rubout.

Duterte previously said a case should be filed against the police “if they have evidence to prove otherwise.” CDG

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