After illegal drugs, Rody wants to abolish slavery

MANILA, Philippines — Aside from illegal drugs, slavery is the other evil President Duterte wants to zealously address and “abolish.”

“There’s one thing that I would like to abolish in this country. I’m not talking of any particular place… itong slavery,” he said in remarks upon arrival at the Davao International Airport Tuesday night from Tokyo.

He said slavery was one of the causes of the centuries-old animosity between Christians and Muslims in the country and that he wanted it stamped out, along with human trafficking.

He vowed to deal harshly with those found engaged in slavery or in trafficking of humans, especially in battle-scarred Marawi City. “I will place you in the level of drugs – kidnapping people and making slaves out of them. You better watch out,” the Chief Executive said.

“I will go after you. Totohanan ‘yan. Pag may nagsumbong dito sa akin na dinala ‘yung anak niya  (I’m not kidding. If I get a complaint that somebody’s child is taken…) They grow up as slaves thinking that they are really slaves. I do not care whether it’s a Moro or a Christian,” Duterte added.

He did not specify which type of slavery he wanted to “abolish,” but based on global slavery index, modern slavery covers human trafficking, commercial sex exploitation, forced labor, recruitment and use of children in armed conflict.

Based on the global slavery index in 2016, the Philippines ranked 33^rd among 167 countries with many of their citizens living in slave conditions.

Around 401,000 Filipinos were said to be living under modern slavery, according to the report.  

The global slavery index also noted that the risk of children being recruited by armed groups is persistent, especially in South Mindanao where factional conflict among breakaway gangs, Islamic militants and feuding clans remains volatile and prevalent.

“I want that practice stopped because it’s inhuman and you do not consign the life of a certain person to slavery for all time,” Duterte said.

“‘Pag malaman ko, talagang pupuntahan kita (If I get wind of it, I will get you). I, myself, as President, will go to you and decide your fate,” Duterte said.

Duterte decried how Muslim extremists had taken a Catholic priest and non-Muslims as hostages during the Marawi siege.

      –  With Edith Regalado