President Duterte on Sunday vowed to address the issue on extrajudicial killings and denied anew police and military involvement in the summary execution of drug personalities in the country.
“I’m getting a lot of flak, criticism and all. I can understand. I can understand the Church. I can understand the libertarians. I can understand the bleeding hearts,” Duterte said in a speech delivered during the awarding ceremony of the 9th Belenismo 2016 in Tarlac City.
The President stressed that he does not allow extrajudicial executions as he pointed out that there have been such cases reported even before the elections. “We will, I will address the problems of extrajudical killing. It is not our job. Maniwala kayo,” said Duterte.
Police data showed that more than 5,000 suspected drug personalities were killed nationwide since the government launched its war on drugs in July. Many of them were gunned down on streets by vigilantes while some were wrapped in plastic and dumped.
The President emphasized that the government has nothing to do with the so-called vigilante killings. “We do not do that. It’s a dirty job. At saka para kang hindi lalaki. Talian mo, balutin mo, it’s a form of torture…Hindi trabaho ng pulis iyan pati sundalo. Bakit mo balutin eh ‘di patayin mo na lang? We are not producing mummy,” he said.
“Patawarin niyo po ako talagang hindi ako pwedeng mawalaan ng momentum dito (war on drugs),” Duterte said.
He also apologized to all those affected by his campaign against illegal narcotics, saying “this is a matter of survival” for the country. “I’m really very sorry to all… Hindi naman I’m sorry for the decision but I’m sorry for those na tinamaan. Simple lang ‘to. Huminto lang kayong lahat sa droga, tapos na,” he said. (ELENA L. ABEN)