Rody: 35 local execs in illegal drug trade

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – There are at least 35 local officials involved in illegal drugs, president-elect Rodrigo Duterte told lawmakers here on Tuesday.

Whether the 35 will be arrested or eliminated as part of Duterte’s crackdown on drugs is unclear.

Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said Duterte talked about the “clear and present danger” of the country’s drug problem during the meeting held at the Malacañang of the South in Barangay Panacan.

He said Duterte urged his allies in Congress to support his campaign against crime.

“(He said) top officials of the PNP (Philippine National Police) and 35 local executives (are involved in the illegal drug trade),” Suarez said yesterday.

“It’s like he is giving them leeway to confess. Perhaps they will get a lighter sentence if they confess, but he is not saying clemency or pardon,” Suarez added.

Suarez said Duterte did not name the local officials involved in drug deals. The incoming president, however, identified one police general allegedly involved in the sale of narcotics. Suarez declined to elaborate.

He said Duterte was visibly disgusted and frustrated by the fact that some local officials condoned and even supported the sale of illegal drugs instead of suppressing it.

“It’s a double whammy. You are not stopping, you are even protecting (the drug trade),” Suarez said.

It remains unclear what Duterte would do if the 35 local officials refuse to admit their wrongdoing. He has said he would not hesitate to kill to protect the country from the drug menace.

Earlier, Duterte asked three police generals with alleged ties to the illegal drug trade to quit from their posts or be humiliated.

“Corruption must stop. I will ask three generals there in (Camp) Crame to resign. Do not wait for me to name you in public because I will only humiliate you,” Duterte said during his victory party at Crocodile Park last Saturday.

Duterte has also bared plans to review the cases against policemen that have been dismissed. He said some crooked police officers were able to avoid punishment because the prescription period of their cases has lapsed.

Suarez said Duterte is also planning to tap the military for his anti-drug campaign.

“He (Duterte) even mentioned that he might need the support of the Armed Forces in the cleansing method, eliminating those men in uniform who are involved in this drug issue,” the lawmaker said.

On the other hand, Chief Supt. Ronald dela Rosa, Duterte’s choice as the next PNP chief, said he would personally talk to the three police officials linked by the incoming president to illegal drugs.

Dela Rosa refused to identify the three police generals, but said they are on the take in the operations of illegal drugs.

“We will exhaust all legal means. But I will personally ask them first to leave the organization,” he said.

“Maybe they would listen. I would just ask them to resign instead of them being humiliated or being hurt.”

Dela Rosa admitted he could not just terminate the three police officials when he assumes the top PNP post.

He said the three police generals are still entitled to due process before summary dismissal proceedings.

Another option, Dela Rosa said, is to conduct a lifestyle check on the three police officials to obtain evidence that could bolster the case against them.

PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said he has sent out a team to dig into the alleged involvement of police generals in illegal drugs but there is no evidence so far to validate the accusations.

Use the rope

During the meeting, Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. proposed the allocation of budget for lethal injection rooms, according to Suarez.

The proposal was made after Duterte informed the lawmakers in the meeting that the restoration of death penalty is one of his priorities.

Andaya, a former budget secretary, is poised to become the next chairman of the powerful House appropriations committee.  

“Congressman Andaya proposed that in the budget for the remaining (days of the year), they would amend the 2016 budget. They would allocate funds for the improvement of the lethal injection room,” Suarez said.

But Duterte responded by citing the need for an implementing law on capital punishment.

“We can put it (funding for lethal injection rooms) in the appropriations, that we are setting aside the implementing features. It seems that he (Duterte) does not like it. He wants to do it by hanging,” Suarez said.

“He said the lethal injection is not frightening enough because you will just let the convict sleep. With hanging, you can see the convict wiggling,” he added.

Suarez, an ally of Vice President Jejomar Binay, said he has no objections to the restoration of death penalty.

“If ever I’ll get the minority (leadership), we might even approve it ahead of the majority,” he said.

Suarez said he prefers a more “dramatic” method of executing criminals.

“If I would be asked, I’d rather go for firing squad. It’s more dramatic. Imagine facing the musketry while blindfolded. It can be a serious deterrent to criminality,” he said. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe