President Duterte did not mince words about policemen who allegedly recycle and sell confiscated illegal drugs, saying they should be killed.
The President has slammed the alleged pilferage of seized illegal drugs in the government’s anti-drug operations during a speech in Malacañang.
“Totoo ‘yang corruption sa droga. ‘Yang recycle sinasabi lagi. Hindi – p***** i** patayin mo talaga lahat ng pulis na crooked,” he said during the oath-taking of new government officials at the Palace.
Duterte, in a later interview with reporters, admitted that the pilferage of confiscated drugs involving cops was prevalent but the government is hard-pressed to resolve the problem.
He explained that he could not simply fire errant cops, saying they must face an investigation as part of due process. “Well I have to have evidence, kaya nga sabi ko sundan na lang muna ninyo,” he said.
He admitted that some cops tend to report the seizure of 10 kilograms of illegal drugs instead of the actual 20 kilos, and sell these illegal drugs back to the market.
“Tapos may award pa yan sila. Tapos yung iba irecycle. Ipagbili nila, marami yan. And it’s so prevalent, even the present set up of government hindi mo makuha ito. You know you cannot just fire him for due process, right to be heard, investigation. Talo talaga ang gobyerno sa totoo lang,” he said.
“With so many restrictions, under the bill of rights since this is a democracy, hanggang diyan lang talaga tayo,” he added.
Duterte, however, pledged that his administration would strive to reduce the country’s drug problem before the end of term.
“You cannot be a superman here, but little by little maybe towards the end I promise you that by the end of my term at least mamenos menos ang sakit ng ulo,” he said.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Aaron Aquino earlier revealed that some anti-narcotics agents were involved in the sale of seized illegal drugs or used them as planted evidence in fake operations. Aquino has blamed the court’s slow order to destroy confiscated illegal drugs for the increasing inventory of illicit substance. (Genalyn Kabiling)
