| President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, October 6, said that the administration’s relentless campaign against illegal drugs is a fight for “self-preservation”.
In his visit to Camp Rafael Rodriguez in Butuan City, President Duterte exhorted policemen to continue the battle against illicit drugs to protect and save the next generation of Filipinos.
“It is never never wrong for a President and the police and the military to protect its citizens. It is self-preservation,” the President told scores of law enforcers in Caraga Region.
He called on the policemen to “go out and hunt” for people involved in the narcotics trade ensuring full protection of every policemen who will rightfully do their duty.
“I will protect you. I will not allow a single policeman doing his duty go into prison,” he said.
The President noted that a lot of police personnel were included in the drug watch list submitted to him by various law enforcement and intelligence agencies, which has made the pervasive drug problem more difficult to address.
“There are about 4,000 to 5,000 barangay captains, maraming police wag kayong masaktan. Sinira talaga ng droga not only the politics pero police po,” he said.
He said his critics from human rights groups and international community must understand that the country’s drug problem has become a more serious fight with the presence of policemen and influential politicians.
“It’s not an ordinary fight. Ang gobyerno nag-aaway na sa loob. Marami ang local officials, barangay captains, pati police,” he said.
The President, meanwhile, denied allegations that his administration is engaged in extrajudicial killings. Otherwise, he said, no policemen would have ended up being killed in legitimate anti-drug war operations if they have had engaged in extrajudicial killings.
During the event, the President honored several cops who took part in successful drug operations.
Aside from medals, he gave additional cash incentives for the policemen and the police offices that have significantly contributed to the government’s war on drugs.
The police awardees include: Police Chief Inspector Rommel Villamor as Top Performer of Police Regional Office 13’s Anti-Illegal Campaign; Police Chief Inspector Christian Rafols for having the Most Number of Arrested Drug Personalities in the implementation of Project Double Barrel; and Police Senior Inspector Arvin Hosmillo for the Most Number of Illegal Drugs Confiscated in the Implementation of Project Double Barrel.
Also awarded were police offices such as Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Office for Best Performing Police Provincial Police Office; Surigao City Police Office of the province of Surigao del Norte for Best Performing Police Station; San Francisco Municipal Police Station of the province of Agusan del Sur; and CIDG 13 for Best Performing National Separate Unit. PND |
