MANILA, Philippines — Days after a former mayor included in the government’s list of alleged narco-politicians was shot dead, Malacañang warned that those involved in the illegal drug trade could suffer the same fate if they resist arrest.
Police reports said former Parang, Maguindanao town mayor Talib Abo Sr. and his brother Disomimba were killed in a gun battle with law enforcers in Cotabato City last Friday.
Officials said a shootout ensued after the former mayor and his brother pulled out guns and refused to cooperate with police personnel sent to look for shabu in their houses. Abo was one of the politicians accused by President Duterte of involvement in drug trafficking in 2016. The former mayor had denied the accusation.
“Regardless of the social and political status of persons involved and/or engaged in the illegal drug industry, the same fate will necessarily befall them if they resist arrest and shoot it out with arresting officers,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement over the weekend.
“The law allows lawmen to use mortal violence against those who imperil their lives in the course of a legitimate operation, police operation or arrest. The drug menace has struck and destroyed a generation of Filipinos and threatens the next one,” he added.
Panelo maintained that the state “has not initiated and will never initiate drug-related killings outside the ambit of the law.”
“The government will pursue to the ends of the earth those who kill without justifying and exempting circumstances as provided by law until they are put behind bars. There will be no sacred cows in this administration,” he stressed.
He added that “those who disobey or violate the law will pay the price for their crimes or transgressions.”
“The President will employ any means—unconventional or not but constitutionally allowed—to enforce the law. The President shall fulfill his constitutional mandate until the end of his term,” Panelo said.
Despite claims that the anti-drug war has encouraged human rights violations, Panelo said the campaign would continue because it is part of the President’s duty to serve and protect the people. He said illegal drugs caused crimes and made families of addicts dysfunctional.
Other politicians in the narco list who have been killed in police operations include former mayors Rolando Espinosa of Albuera town in Leyte, Samsudin Dimaukom of Datu Saudi town in Maguindanao and Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. of Ozamiz City.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has set its sights on “surgical” operations against at least 2,843 personalities involved in the illegal drug trade.
Chief Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr., PNP spokesman, said the operation is part of the recalibrated measures to make a lasting impact in Duterte’s goal of ending the drug problem.