Former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said former president Duterte and the congressmen asking questions are usually not on the same page, because some questions had wrong premises. Jervis Manahan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Lawyer Salvador Panelo, former presidential spokesperson and former chief legal counsel, criticized the line of questioning of members of the House quad committee in its hearing on the war on drugs on Wednesday.

Panelo, when Duterte was president, often took on the task of "explaining" and justifying his principal's statements and policies, which he claimed had been misunderstood or taken out of context. 

"Most of the times, the premises are wrong kaya ang napapansin ko, yung resource person, the former President, vis-a-vis the one questioning, are not on the same page," he said.

(Most of the times, the premises are wrong so I noticed the resource person, the former President, vis-a-vis the one questioning, are not on the same page)

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"Kaya sabi nila, it's already boring. Paulit-ulit ang tanong. 'Yan ang problema kapag hindi lawyers," he added.

(Some say it's already boring. The questions are repetitive. That's the problem when the ones asking are not lawyers.)

'RESPONSIBILITY'

Panelo also offered an interpretation of Duterte's statements that he is taking full responsibility on the effects of the drug war.

"Maliwanag ang sinasabi ni Presidente. Any consequences arising there from, he will assume responsibility. Kaya sinasabi niyan, kung nagkamali yan dahil inutos ko, isama nyo ako sa demanda," Panelo said.

(The former President's message is clear. Any consequences arising from the drug war, he will assume responsibility. He said that if policemen commit wrongdoing based on his orders, he can be also liable.)

But Panelo stressed that the war on drugs is predicated on legal ground, as Duterte only ordered policemen to catch drug personalities and only shoot if they resist arrest.

"When you say 'I will kill you', it's not a crime, ilang ulit niya sinabi yan. Tinatakot nya lang. Marami nga ang natakot," Panelo said.

(When you say 'I will kill you', it's not a crime, he said that a lot. He just scared people, a lot got scared.)