Duterte says Mexico, China drug rings operating in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - The Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico and the Chinese Triad have been actively operating in the country, President Duterte said Wednesday before the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

Duterte made the statement to explain his passion in putting an end to the illegal drug trade in the country.

“Is Mexico into us? Yes. The Sinaloa drug cartel of Mexico. We are the transshipment point,” Duterte said, citing reports from the US operations against the drug cartel within its borders.

He said the Mexican and Chinese drug cartels are separately using the country as their transshipment point for their illicit products.

“I’m telling you now. I will never, never, never, foist a lie on you. That is the truth,” Durerte said.

He said the Philippine law enforcers cannot get Chinese drug lords since they are out of reach. They are operating from China through their lieutenants in the Philippines, using GPS in the delivery and pickup of their drug shipments.

Faced with international criticism over his tough anti-crime methods, Duterte reiterated he will be accountable for the actions of his men in anti-drug operations.

“I am willing to accept the consequences. I assume full responsibility and it’s okay with me whatever happens. I am the President now. I’d like to repeat it to you again, in the national problem of illegal drugs, I am putting at stake my honor, my life and the presidency,” he said.

Duterte also challenged any possible coup against him in the implementation of his anti-crime campaign.

“Military coup d’état – you want to stage a coup d’état, fine. Call me if you want to swear an oath ‘Ladies and gentlemen, this is the military who would like to take over the country’,” he said.

Duterte said he deliberately kept quiet over the numerous killings of suspected drug offenders, saying he needed to see how to neutralize the influence of the well-entrenched drug syndicates in the country.

“So you see, there’s a lot of killings, I have maintained my cold silence. I already made the warning I can do nothing for them,” he said.

Duterte said he is fighting a war against sophisticated and ingenuous drug syndicates.

“So how do you address them?” he asked, justifying the need to eradicate the protectors of syndicates in the country.  – With Romina Cabrera