Duterte to military: Help gov’t win war on drugs

MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte has called on members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to help win the war against illegal drugs with their patriotism because “the enemy is within” and “you will have to come in very fast.”

Duterte assured them of full protection in case drug suspects were killed in the course of the operations.

As this developed, the president of De La Salle (DLs) Philippines expressed concern over the lack of public outcry against the spate of extrajudicial killings hounding the Duterte administration vis-à-vis the war on illegal drugs.

Incoming House speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, however, is not keen on launching an investigation into the drug-related killings. But he wants to know why illegal drugs have reportedly gone rampant inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) during the watch of then justice secretary and now Sen. Leila de Lima.

Speaking before Western Mindanao Command troops in Basilan on Thursday, the President said “we have a serious problem” and “we’ll just have to support the government” to win the fight against the drug menace.

“We are stretched thin. I don’t have a police officer to deploy in every nook and corner (of the country) while shabu, it’s rampaging,” Duterte said.

The leadership of the Philippine National Police, meanwhile, warned non-performing PNP commanders that they only have three weeks left to show results of their “double barrel” campaign against illegal drugs or they would be replaced.

Duterte asked the soldiers to be loyal not to him personally but to the country.

“I won all the elections in my life…I take pride in winning the presidency but I’m fighting a war here. Drugs in Manila and in other places…here in Mindanao, it’s terrorism,” Duterte said.

“It will need your sacrifice. And mine, too,” he said.

Being the commander-in-chief, the President can tap the military in the conduct of law enforcement operations by granting them police powers, if he deems it necessary.

Duterte also said earlier he was fortunate to have been empowered by the executive order of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo raising the level of the drug menace to a national security threat.

This, he said, would entitle him to use the AFP in the fight against illegal drugs.

The President took potshots against some personalities, saying “for all you know, they even have a picture” with convicted drug lords, apparently referring to De Lima, but he did not mention any names.

“That’s how difficult this war is, so you have to love your country. Do it for the love of country, do not do it for me. I do not need it, this is all work. As I said, I am just an employee,” he said.

“This is all I can say: Do your duty. If you are ordered (to do) an operation against shabu, nagkasabit-sabit kayo (if you get into trouble)… I will be there in the fulfillment of duty or in the performance of your task, mandate, you will have my support, 100 percent. I will not allow you to go to jail, I will be first. That is mine,” Duterte said.

“If you executed everyone, it’s my order. That is mine. Mine and mine alone. That’s me. But that is our job. So do not be afraid that you might be charged…take solace from my statement: I am there for you,” he said.

Duterte then went to visit the wounded soldiers before wrapping up his tour of the military camps in Mindanao. 

He added that the soldiers could talk to their commanders should they need some help from him as their commander-in-chief.

Duterte said he would listen to the soldiers’ woes, which they could course through their respective commanders.

Say no to extralegal killings

In a pastoral letter, DLS Philippines president Jose Mari Jimenez called on the Lasallian educational communities to engage civil authorities to ensure that respect for life and the rule of law are always upheld amid the war on illegal drugs.

He said the lack of a significant public outcry was worrisome because this would not bode well for the vision to have a just and humane society.

“What these extrajudicial killings demonstrate is how desperate many people have become in the face of the issues of drugs and criminality,” Jimenez said.

“It is a mistake to believe that we can create a peaceful society by denying those suspected of wrongdoing their fundamental rights to life and to due legal process. The doctrine of the common good rejects any notion that the good of the majority may be attained by violating the fundamental rights of any member of society,” he added.

Perform, or else…

At the PNP, Director for Operations Chief Supt. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan warned police officers to double their efforts in fighting the drug menace or they would be sacked.

“We will be coming out with our evaluation today,” Cascolan said.

Cascolan issued the warning as the chiefs of police and provincial directors in Cagayan Valley, the Mindoro-Marinduque-Romblon, Palawan (MIMAROPA) region and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARRM) had been performing dismally in so far as the PNP’s  “double barrel” anti-drug campaign was concerned. – With Janvic Mateo, Mike Frialde, Jaime Laude