GUEST OF HONOR. President-elect Rodrigo Duterte attends the turnover rites of the Davao City Police Office command held at the DCPO grounds, Friday, June 24. On his right is Police Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, acting regional director of the Police Regional Office 11. (Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY — President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has offered bigger bounty and promotion to policemen to go after the drug lords and criminals.
During the turnover rites of the Davao City Police Office command held here, Duterte said he will compete with the price of bounty drug lords that have allegedly offered for his head.
“Pag nag put-up siya sa buhay ko, 50 million, I will put 60 million, kill him (If he puts P50 million for my life, I will put P60 million, kill him),” Duterte said.
“No questions ask. Pataasan kami ng presyo, eh di sige (Whoever can give the highest price). If they put up 100 million, I will give you 150 (million) slaughter them, and I will be happy and I will give you a promotion on the spot,” Duterte added.
He said that a Police Officer 1 can be promoted to a general.
“From PO1 to General kaagad, wa nay daghang storya. Eh pinili ako eh. (From PO1 to General, let’s quit talking. I was chosen),” he said.
Duterte added that during the campaign, he has been very clear about his policies.
“I never hid anything. I said what I wanted to say. Hardliner talaga ako (I am really a hardliner),” said Duterte.
The incoming President has pledged to suppress criminality and the problem on illegal drugs during the first three to six months of his administration.
Incoming Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa, in a television interview last week said the bounties allegedly offered by drug lords at the New Bilibid Prison for his and Duterte’s heads were raised from P10 million to P50 million each because the drug lords were finding it difficult to look for takers.
Meanwhile, a news report published by the Inquirer.net on June 14, reported that the bounty for the heads of the officials was raised to P1 billion.
Mayors involved in drugs
Duterte also told police officials to run after the mayors who are involved in illegal drugs trade. He said there are about “30-32” mayors who benefitted from drug money.
“Ang laro ngayon maraming mayor, about 30-32 nandyan sa droga, sila mismo ang naglaro at nanalo. They won their respective towns and cities because of drug money (The game now is that there are several mayors, about 30, 31 who are in drugs. They themselves play and won. They won their respective towns and cities because of drug money),” he said.
“I will not give them that luxury,” he said.
Duterte also ordered the chiefs of police to kill the mayor “if that idiot mayor resist arrest and fight it out with you.”
Meanwhile, Duterte warned the police that if they will be involved in illegal drugs they will be the first to go.
“Do not ever, ever, ever, play with drugs. Mauuna talaga kayo (You will go first). Believe me,” he said.
“Let us put a stop a stop to this plague in our generation. You (police), that is your duty to your children and grandchildren,” he said. (davaotoday.com)
