President Duterte on Sunday claimed that criminality and prohibited drugs are thriving in Cebu because of the involvement of some high-ranking police officers in the illegal drugs trade.
In a speech during the celebration of the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City, Duterte warned police officers against illegal drugs because they would suffer the same fate as some of their colleagues.
“Ang droga, kusog kaayo sa Cebu. Ang kanang Talisay, wala na na’y pahuway. Naa ang tanan dihang kabuang (The illegal drug trade is thriving here. Talisay is in a state of unrest. All kinds of crimes are there),” he said.
“Hasta inyong mga deputy, mga direktor, naa sa – naa sa droga. Mao tong daghang gipangpatay ngari niadtong mga chief of police nga yawa naa sa droga. Giingnan ta mo ayaw. Ayaw kay madisgrasya gyud mo (Even your deputies and directors are part of the illegal drug trade. That is why there were chiefs of police, who were involved in drugs, were killed here. I warned you to stop. Do not do it because something bad would happen to you),” he added.
Duterte said that while he and the police can have different opinions on some matters, they should always be on the same page when it comes to drugs and the country’s welfare.
“Mao na akong giingon og magkadeperensiya ta ‘wag lang ang bayan pati ‘yang mga droga kay it is not acceptable to me (That’s what I always say that we can have differences but not when it comes to our nation and drugs because it is not acceptable to me),” he said.
“You know, droga man gud will destroy my country. Do not destroy my country because if you do, I will really kill you. Mao na muingon ka’g direktor ka sa unsa diha, disgrasya ka gyud. Ayaw gyud. Likayi gyud ninyo (Even if you say you’re the director of an agency, you will be punished. So don’t. Stay away from drugs).”
The President had earlier said that the involvement of some police officers was one of the problems why he cannot fully eradicate drugs in the country. It even took him three months to appoint a police chief, saying he cannot pick anybody from the roster. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
