Having zero tolerance for abuse of power, President Duterte has warned that police scalawags involved in kidnapping and murder would “suffer the same fate” as their victims.
Amid the public outcry over the killing of a South Korean businessman inside the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, the President said it was only a matter time before he catches rogue cops and make them pay for their offenses.
“Gaya ng pulis na nag-kidnap, aba they will… Sabi ko nga, kayong mga nasa gobyerno, I don’t know about your officers, but if you ask me, you will suffer the same fate. You will suffer the same fate,” the President said during a recent oath-taking of police officials in Malacañang. “Ewan ko kung kailan, pero may araw talaga na ma-timingan ko kayo,” he added.
The President said he would personally deal with the erring government personnel, adding that he has never ordered PNP chief Director General Ronald M. dela Rosa and other policemen to take the law into their hands. “I’ve always said, ‘papatayin ko kayo,” Duterte said.
After issuing such death threat, Duterte candidly revealed his experience as a hired gun during the police assembly in Malacañang.
“Kasi noong hindi pa ako na-mayor killer man rin ako. Mura lang. Hindi masyado mahal ang kubra ko doon,” he said.
“You might take me one as an evil person but to me marami tayo dito,” Duterte told the police officials in Malacañang.
The South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo was seized in his residence last October by a group of policemen under the pretense of a drug raid. The culprits reportedly pretended he was still alive to collect ransom from his family.
(GENALYN D. KABILING)
