Duterte ready to kill criminals vigilante-style even as a civilian
March 9, 2017 | 2:22pm
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte says he has ordered the arrest of the owner of Mighty Corporation for various violations including falsification of cigarette tax stamps during a media interview in Malacañan Palace on March 7, 2017.
King Rodriguez / Presidential Photo
MANILA, Philippines — He has denied operating the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS) but President Rodrigo Duterte is ready to kill vigilante-style if his loved ones are killed by drug addicts or contaminated by narcotics.
Duterte said if he were an ordinary civilian, he would not hesitate to use the firearms he owns to get back at those who harmed his children.
“If I were just a civilian and you are lurking within the neighborhood and my female child was killed or you raped her or you contaminate my child with drugs and my child becomes an addict, vivigilantehin kita (I will kill you vigilante-style),” the president said Wednesday during the 10th national congress of the Philippine Councilors League in Pasay City.
“I will kill you vigilante. Hihiritan talaga kita (I will get back at you), kung wala na magawa ang pulis di na makontrol (if the policemen cannot do anything or are no longer in control),” he added.
Duterte said criminals are all over the country and are preying on children and the elderly. He lamented that criminals using shabu end up being acquitted because they were not in the right state of mind when they committed wrongdoing.
“As forensic people say, the brain has shrunk and therefore he does not know what is right or wrong, therefore no criminal liability. What will now happen to this country? Who will answer for that? Will they answer for it? Who will take care of those people? It’s the government and the country, taxpayers,” he said.
Duterte has been accused of operating the DDS, a vigilante group blamed for the killing of criminals in Davao City, where he served as mayor for 23 years. The president has denied this, saying he did not need to create a death squad because he already had the police force.
Duterte admitted though that many criminals died during his stint as mayor.
“I’m facing many allegations, some of them invented, some are true. I admit many died along the way in my 23 years as mayor. Never was a time I executed a person kneeling down, his hands bleeding. Di pwede. Para kang di lalaki. (It is not allowed. It is unmanly),” he said.
“I’m ready to rot in jail for right charges, for the right punishment. Huwag naman lahat itapon sa akin. (Do not blame everything on me).”
The president responded anew to notions that the number of killings has risen under his watch.
“I don't demean life but I have to think of higher interest. And my term as president begins and ends with public interest, nothing else,” he said.
“I will now demand: Bitawan niyo yung droga (stop peddling drugs), tomorrow, wala na talagang patay (There will be no more killings). I will see to it, na wala nang patay ni isa (not even one will be killed).”
Duterte said he has decided not to answer the allegations hurled at him by his critics.
“Pabalik-balik lang (The allegations are just being repeated)…You can’t do anything but to shut up,” the president said.
Despite his statement, Duterte could not resist lashing at critics of his war on drugs.
“Madali mag yawyaw. Ibigay ko nga sa inyo, Kayo magpatakbo kayo na (It’s easy to talk. I’ll turn this over to you. You run the show),” he said.
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