Sowing intrigue another weapon vs drug rings

MANILA, Philippines – As the number of slain suspected drug offenders rises, President Duterte has admitted that intrigues are being used to destroy narcotics syndicates in the country.

Speaking to soldiers in Cagayan de Oro on Tuesday, Duterte said law enforcers have no personal motives to kill drug personalities, who he said are posing a threat to society.

“Long before, we infiltrated them and we created intrigue,” Duterte said.

“It is a legitimate game there. We plant intrigues so they would kill each other,” he added.

Duterte said the intrigues would make members of drug rings suspicious of each other.

The President made the statement as human rights activists raised concern over the spate of killings of people believed to be involved in illegal drugs.

Duterte previously admitted that some of those killed could have been summarily executed, but he maintained that he does not condone illegal acts.

Official police data showed that more than 400 people have been slain in anti-drug operations, but some reports claimed the figure has reached more than 700.  

Duterte also defended the police from allegations that they are condoning extrajudicial killings.

“There is nothing personal there. The policemen do not know these people,” Duterte said.

“You want my policemen to gamble with their lives. It’s about self-preservation. If they die, they also have families,” he added.

Duterte said policemen should always be ready to defend themselves and should not allow drug suspects to kill them.

More than 5,000 people with alleged links to narcotics have been arrested while close to 600,000 others have surrendered to authorities.

Duterte went on his shame campaign by revealing a list of local officials, judges and police officers involved in the illegal drug trade.

Critics have claimed that the list of officials read by Duterte last Sunday was filled with wrong or old information.

For instance, Judge Roberto Navidad, one of the seven judges tagged in narcotics, was killed on Jan. 14, 2008. The list also contained a “congressman party-list Jeffrey Celis” but the name is not part of the official roster of the House of Representatives. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe