Cardema praises Duterte's crime stance as lawmakers defend diverse patriotism

Duterte Youth party-list Rep. Drixie Mae Cardema praised former President Rodrigo Duterte during a House hearing, highlighting his tough stance on crime. She criticized those opposing Duterte's legacy and called for the reinstatement of the death penalty for serious crimes. Cardema's comments were met with pushback from lawmakers, including Rep. Romeo Acop, who emphasized that many have served the country and that no one has a monopoly on patriotism. He encouraged Cardema to participate more actively in hearings. Former President Duterte attended the hearing to address allegations of human rights violations during his drug war. Testimonies revealed a rewards system for police involved in killings, raising concerns about the implementation of his policies nationwide.