Rody jokes: EJK pa more

MANILA, Philippines - Extra means more, so let’s have more. Killing, that is.

President Duterte joked about executing more drug personalities, even as he denied endorsing extrajudicial killings in his narcotics crackdown.

Speaking to survivors of Typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban, Leyte on Wednesday, Duterte said the “extra” in the phrase “extrajudicial killings” means more fatalities.

“Kaya nga extra e pandagdag. E di dagdagan pa natin (It’s called ‘extra’ because it means additional. So let’s add more),” Duterte said in jest.

Duterte asked who between drug lords, who manufacture shabu, and policemen, who accidentally kill innocent civilians, are the lesser evil.

“Who wants to kill children? Policemen who do that are addicts,” the President said. “I have to protect the police because I told them to work.” 

Duterte clarified he does not endorse extrajudicial killings, adding he has so far lost 33 policemen and 19 soldiers to the drug war.

He also encouraged the police to bring journalists with them during their operations for transparency.  

“With regard to human rights, I said they should bring the media so the truth will come out,” Duterte said.

Meanwhile, the President wants police officers tagged in the killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo to suffer the same fate as the victim.

Duterte said the officers’ bodies should be used for fuel generation at a power plant in Sarangani.

“I apologize for the death of your compatriot. We are very sorry that it had to happen. But I can assure you, those responsible are known to us already and they will have to go to prison and I will see to it that they will be sentenced to the maximum,” he said.