President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed frustration over the continued involvement of local officials in illegal drugs, saying threatening to kill or intimidate people linked to illegal drugs is part of his job.
President Duterte made the statement during the 2020 General Assembly of the League of Municipalities at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City on Tuesday evening, claiming there was no problem when he threatened to kill those involved in the illegal drug trade because it was part of his job as Chief Executive to scare, intimidate and kill people.
The Chief Executive was referring to the recent seizure of illegal drugs worth at least P7 million worth in separate buy-bust operations in Cebu City last week.
“This only reveals how local chief executives involved in illegal drugs tend to show off their properties. It transcends vanity. It is really greed in the lowest form. That’s the problem. Even mayors are getting involved because of access of money,” he said.
“There are so many corrupt judges, many corrupt prosecutors. I should know. I was for eight years a trial fiscal. I should know how a classic case of a drug charges against a big time. Sige patayin na lang kita para tapos na. Karami nito, even mayors,” the President said.
“You know I called all the city mayors because in the urban areas it thrives and even governors. I closed the Malacañang room for conferences and told them, don’t come out I will kill you,” Duterte said.
The President said these mayors become rich, by showing off their wealth.
“Of course, they painted their house, the inner, the core with money. There, 500 pesos surrounds.. It’s not—it transcends vanity. It is really greed in the lowest form,” the President told the mayors.
‘Yan ang problema. Maski mga mayor pumasok because of access of money. Ako, ewan ko. Pero sa panahon ko, ‘yang takutin ako ng mga human rights ganun,” he said.
The President renewed his tirades against human rights groups that criticized his drug war, saying he was not afraid to face them in court.
“I’d be happy to place you in the cross—in the witness stand, cross-examine you. Sabihin nyo the (You’re saying) 70,000 [were] killed? Who was the 69th…? Can you name him?” Duterte said.
“For all the killings in this country, if you cannot blame anybody, you blame government. Because you threaten, of course. A mayor can always threaten a criminal without incurring criminal liability. It is my job to scare people, to intimidate people, and to kill people,” he added.
Duterte said he had to do everything he can to save the country from illegal drugs.
“What am I really trying to say? That if nothing is done, this country will go to the dogs,” he said.
During his campaign for the presidency in 2016, President Duterte promised to end the illegal drug trade, along with criminality and corruption, within three to six months.
The President admitted that he underestimated the situation and said that the bloody campaign will last until the end of his term.
