By Germelina A. Lacorte
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY — Mayor Rodrigo Duterte ordered no let up against drugs and crime syndicates despite criticisms from international human rights groups and the report by United Nations (UN) rapporteur Philip Alston on extra-judicial killings.
Duterte said Alstons report will not deter him in purging the city of criminals. You might think that the report of the UN rapporteur will discourage or stop us in the fight against drugs, you are dead wrong, an angry Duterte said, Davao city will still remain the most dangerous place for drug syndicates and criminals, he said.
Alston, who was in the Philippines in February last year to look into the extrajudicial killings in the country, visited Davao, where he pointed out the commonplace knowledge of the existence of a death squad, with men routinely killing street-children and others in broad daylight.
In his report, the UN rapportteur recommended that the National Police Command (Napolcom) should strip Duterte off his power and control over the Philippine National Police (PNP) units in the city, and should hold the national officers accountable for the shutting off of the death squad.
But it was not until after the killing of radio broadcaster Fernando Lintuan, earlier identified with Dutertes political rival Prospero Nograles, that the deputy regional director for administration of the police regional office here was suddenly transferred to Camp Crame. Local radio stations also reported on the impending transfer of the city police director Jaime Morente, who was close to Duterte.
Earlier radio reports said Nograles had ordered the transfer reportedly to give way to an independent investigation of the broadcasters death. Nograles, however, denied it.
The sudden movement in the local police force prompted Duterte to resign as RPOC chair, but Duterte said this does not mean he will lose control in the drive against criminals.
Not because Im no longer the head of the RPOC, I could no longer go after you, he said, referring to crime syndicates. I can operate anywhere, even outside the city.
He also told the scheduled Congressional inquiry into the killings to go to hell, as he ordered no let up in the operations against criminals and crime syndicates. You can investigate everyday, I dont give a s–t, he said.
There is still no let up against crime and drugs and thats the policy, Duterte said. Dito sa Davao, you remain a target, an object and subject of assassination.
Wala akong pakialam sa UN report na iyan (I dont care about the UN report), he said. (Germelina Lacorte/davaotoday.com)
