President Rodrigo Duterte has made the lives of Filipinos better, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said on Tuesday.

Panelo made this remark after Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Filipino voters need to ask themselves if their lives had improved under the Duterte administration.

“Kaya nga mataas ang [trust and approval] rating dahil nakikita nila yung mga pagbabago mula nung maging Presidente ito (That’s why he has a high rating because they see changes since he became President),” Panelo said in his commentary show Counterpoint.

Besides asking if their lives improved, Lacson also said Filipinos should also ask themselves if they are treated with more respect by the international community or not.

Panelo, in response, acknowledged that international bodies like the United Nations (UN) seemed to be concerned over the Duterte administration’s aggressive anti-illegal drugs campaign.

He shrugged this off as “gossip”, noting that Duterte respects human rights and upholds the rule of law.

“Masama ang reputasyon ni Presidente dahil dito sa mga tinatawag na extrajudicial killings, ‘yun naman puro chismis po ‘yan e (The President has a bad impression when it comes to extrajudicial killings, but it’s all gossip),” he said.

Panelo renewed his challenge to Duterte’s critics and detractors to file charges before the courts if they believed that the President violated human rights by launching a war against drugs.

He said it did not matter if the international bodies looked down on the government, noting that it is more important for the government to prevent foreigners from infringing on the country’s sovereignty.

“Kung ang international community e walang paggalang sa’tin dahil hindi natin sinusunod ang kagustuhan nila, nakikialam sila sa ating internal affairs, tumatayo tayo sa sarili nating bituka, mas maganda na ‘yun. E di huwag niyo kami igalang. Basta kami hindi uubra yung sasalakayin niyo ang ating sovereignty. Mas gusto na namin ‘yun (If the international community does not respect us because we do not comply with their wishes because they are meddling in our country’s internal affairs and we’re standing on our own, that’s better. Then don’t respect us. We will not allow you to infringe on our sovereignty),” he added.

In response to Lacson’s question on whether there is less corruption now, Panelo explained that Duterte has made it his commitment to spend the remaining months of his term going after corrupt officials.

“Maraming tinatanggal, left and right. Pati miyembro ng Gabinete tintanggal. Talagang definitely may less corruption (He fired a lot, left and right. Even members of the Cabinet. There is definitely less corruption now),” he said.

Lacson, who went to Pangasinan and La Union with Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to determine voter support for their presidential and vice-presidential bids, said next year’s May 9 elections would be a referendum on the Duterte administration.

During a meeting with members of ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) last week, Duterte said he is “sold to the idea” of joining the vice presidential race next year.

He said is “seriously thinking” of accepting his party mates’ appeal for him to seek the second top post in the country.

In a public address on Monday, Duterte admitted that he is only considering running as vice president next year to “scare off” his critics. (PNA)