Pubdate: Mon, 06 Jun 2016
Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines)
Contact:  http://www.mb.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906
Author: Fred Lobo

'WAR' VS. DRUGS AND ERRING COPS TO GET SERIOUS - DU30

INCOMING President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a determined "war" 
against illegal drugs and their protectors in uniform.

Seize those drugs, unmask and kill their protectors, he says.

Duterte says the government will get real tough against illegal drugs 
manufacturers, traffickers, and pushers and tasked barangay 
officials, policemen, and other law enforcers to be at the forefront 
of the fight.

"Those who destroy the lives of our children will be destroyed," "The 
Punisher" reiterates.

To make his anti-drugs campaign effective, Duterte has even issued a 
"shoot-to-kill" order for those involved and who fight with 
authorities or evade arrest.

"Killl them. No apologies. No excuses," he insists.

Duterte has also warned that barangay captains, police men and law 
enforcers to be found involved in the illegal drugs trade will fired 
or even killed.

"I will stake my honor, my life. Then good riddance," he vows.

Police officers involved in illegal drugs will not be accorded 
"gentle persuasion" but will instead face "outright elimination" if 
caught, incoming Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald "Bato" 
dela Rosa has warned.

"For police officers, they will no longer be accorded knock and 
persuade, they will be eliminated outright," he tells reporters here.

De las Rosa has stressed that the war on illegal drugs will be his 
foremost priority.

Knock and persuade approach will be employed in communities, he says.

He said that police officers who are involved in illegal drugs are 
not expected to reform.

Hence, they have to be eliminated outright, he explains.

Dela Rosa pointed out that out of the 160,000-strong PNP, "more or 
less one percent" are involved in illegal drugs.

A conservative estimate yet an alarming revelation. Whew! Dela Rosa 
reiterates Duterte's terse warning to drug lords, who now have a 
bounty of up to 13 million each.

"If he puts up a fight, he dies. If he doesn't, he lives. That's how 
simple it is," he says.

He announced that operations against drug lords and drug 
personalities will be relentless, even if they transfer or leave 
their places of operations.

"Where else would they go but out of the country? Mag-abroad na sila," he says.

De la Rosa said he has been meeting with current PNP chief Director 
General Ricardo Marquez "four times a week" on drugs and other 
problems since he was named by Duterte as his replacement.

"We will hit the ground running. We will ccome like a knockout 
punch," the new PNP chief assures.

Dela Rosa said dealing with the country's illegal drugs problem will 
be Pres. Duterte's priority for a reason.

"There is no place in the Philippines where there is no problem with 
drugs...they are being sold like candies," he says.

But with Duterte's order, drug dealers in Metro Manila, the 
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and Regions 3,4, 6, and 
7 are now preparing to leave.

"Drug dealers are now holding "closing-out sales," he jokes.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom