Duterte to UN on Drug Killings: My Job is to Protect Innocent, Law-Abiding Citizens

President Duterte chats with PNP chief Gen. Ronald dela Rosa at the PNP anniversary last week. PHOTO BY KJ ROSALES, PHILSTAR

 

By: InterAksyon.com

MANILA – Saying his job is to “protect the innocent, law-abiding citizens,” President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday fended off accusations he was unleashing the equivalent of a national death squad in his tough campaign against illegal drugs, and signalled there would be no change in his stance even if the United Nations sends experts to investigate extra-judicial killings.

Calling a press conference in Davao City past 1 a.m., Duterte said the situation he inherited when he assumed the presidency – an estimated 3 million of the population tagged as drug users – was a “pandemic” that required tough, decisive action.

“Three million addicts in this country…It is a pandemic…So what am I supposed to do as a President?” He said all he did was to “empower the military and the police” who, after all, are  tasked to “protect the Philippines”

He shrugged off concern, as raised by one questioner, that the unabated killings – the latest being of a suspected drug pusher in Dipolog City shot dead by a sniper as he arrived in court for a hearing  of over a thousand people – was unraveling “the social fabric of the Philippines.”

Duterte said, “My job, to UN, is to protect the innocent, law-abiding citizens,” repeating his observation that years of neglect by past administrations had left millions of citizens victimized by drug-induced crime.

“In the distant past, no police was really willing to work and risk his life,” Duterte recalled, adding he was taking full responsibility for the fact that “they are now encouraged and brave enough to have a shoot off,” in apparent reference to the official tally that over 600 of the suspected drug personalities arrested had been killed, mostly because they allegedly fought it out with lawmen.

Meanwhile, in the same press conference, Duterte also:

  • Said he was compelled to make revelations on Sen. Leila de Lima’s alleged ties to drug lords last week, so people will see more fully the true picture when she was Justice secretary – a time when, he noted, drug lords detained at the national penitentiary continued to operate with impunity.
  • Hinted he may soon revisit the case of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, tagged the pork barrel queen, who was arrested and prosecuted during de Lima’s incumbency at the DOJ.

    Senate inquiry starts Aug. 22

A Senate inquiry opens Monday (Aug. 22) into the extra-judicial killings, mainly on concern that the EJKs are being spawned by a culture of impunity engendered by Duterte’s repeated, open encouragement for police to kill suspects of they feel their life is threatened.

The President and the National Police chief, Gen. Ronald dela Rosa, have separately said it was unfair to accuse police of being behind all the 1,000-plus killings since the crackdown began July 1.

Dela Rosa said they had information drug lords were behind most killings, as they try to clear the trail, wipe out rivals or their small-time dealers to silence them.

The PNP chief has been advised by an ex-PNP chief, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, to also confront the problem of vigilante killings, saying this could taint the police campaign.

On Sunday morning, Duterte reminded journalists that in the past, before his campaign, the “standard system” was that “when you accuse him [drug suspect], you will always have a counter-charge.”

That counter-charge will be used in court by the suspected as “leverage against the poor policeman,” who is often left to fend for himself.

“In this country no lawyer is provided for the police. They are left at the mercy, they are left behind.”

Duterte said that “when I was [Davao] mayor I told them, go ahead, do your duty. I told them shoot them first if your life is on the line…I provided them with lawyers.”

He lamented how many policemen face charges in court and when accused, could end up losing the job or being suspended.

“Hearings can take to eternity,” said Duterte –  a long period during which the lawman’s family goes hungry.

 

(Source: InterAksyon.com)

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