The Philippines is prepared to “blow to kingdom come” pirates and drug traffickers passing local waters as part of an intensified campaign against transnational crimes, President Duterte declared.
The President has authorized the Philippine Navy to “kill” these lawless elements after admitting that drug traffickers and pirates have been plying their trade because there is “no authority in the high seas.”
“I repeat, my orders to the Navy are that if they are positive that they are pirates, you blow them to kingdom come. Patayin mo na lahat at matapos na ang problema ko at ng Pilipino,” Duterte said during the 156th birth anniversary of Filipino revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio in Caloocan City Saturday.
Duterte said the country has teamed with Indonesia and Malaysia to conduct border patrols against sea piracy and other transnational crimes in the regional waters. He argued that the nations have the “right” to blast the pirates out of regional waters.
“You know what, the trawlers, ‘yung maluluma na mga barko ng mga Chinese, they ply the international seas. And there is nobody but nobody who can stop them because there is no authority in the high seas,” he said. “But if you commit piracy or piracy if you may, then that gives any nation the right to blow you – to blow you to the high heavens. And we are beset with piracy in the Celebes, Sulu Sea, and the Indonesian waters,” he added.
He recalled that the proposed task force was tackled in his previous meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. “I just had a talk with President Widodo and Mahathir. And I said it’s high time that we form a task force, not really intruding into the waters of other countries but just patrol your areas incessantly and accurately. And I will do my share in the Sulu Sea and the sea in here, Jolo,” he said.
Back in 2017, the three nations forged an agreement to step up maritime security to keep terrorists, pirates, and other criminals away from regional seas. Under the pact, they will coordinate naval patrols to secure the Sulu Sea, located northeast of Borneo island and southwest of the Philippines. (Genalyn Kabiling)