Duterte urges PNP to maintain momentum vs drugs

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to sustain the momentum in the government’s war on drugs even as he warned the public that there would be more killings if the next administration does not address the problem.

During a pre-recorded public address aired on Monday night, Duterte admitted being worried about the drug menace, noting that authorities continued to seize huge amounts of drugs in the past weeks despite his warnings.

“It seems that the arrest of drug traffickers and the seizure of prohibited drugs continue until now. And they are happening in different places, I suppose, and there is still supply,” he said.

“As an outgoing President, I’m scared because of the penchant of people to do drugs because of money. The problem is the number of Filipinos affected by it. Before, it’s in the millions. Now, it’s in the billions,” he added.

The President was referring to the drug raid that resulted in the confiscation of P11 billion worth of shabu in Infanta, Quezon in March.

Duterte, whose tough stance on illegal drugs and crime allowed him to win the presidency by a landslide in 2016, said he still trusts the PNP even if some of its personnel were involved in the drug trade.

“There are scalawags, some are into drugs, a few of them. The PNP needs to police its own ranks,” the President said.

He encouraged the PNP to continue the drug war.

“Do not remove the fervor in your hearts, regardless of who the leader is. I am about to step down. Try to maintain your momentum against the drug problem,” he said.

Duterte expressed optimism that the police and the military would continue the war on drugs.

“I place my full trust and confidence on these two institutions, the police and the military. These are the institutions that I think will not allow the drug traffickers to prevail,” he said.

Duterte said the police should not be afraid to confront the drug problem and should ignore human rights groups that are critical of the anti-drug campaign.

Duterte said the Philippines is “nearing the stage of narco-politics” as some mayors are into drugs just like in Sinaloa, Mexico.

He called on law enforcers to expose local chief executives who are trying to meddle in the fight against drugs. – Paolo Romero