Also instructs them to use police force in fighting drugs
(Eagle News) — “The problem is we have this terrorism, and it’s coming, so just prepare. And I will tell you when to arm yourself.”
President Rodrigo Duterte said this to mayors who came from the Visayas and Mindanao during a meeting at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City on Monday, February 12.
The President said terrorists were “re-grouping” and he instructed the local chief executives to be vigilant to avert this threat.
“Kaya ko kayo pinatawag para malaman ninyo ang sitwasyon that there is a brewing, a regrouping… trouble because of the regrouping of some terrorists cells here. Mga sleepers even in Cebu and Mindanao,” he said.
“Gusto ko kayong magprangkahan tayo, kayong mga Moro, yong mga Kristiyano, puro man tayo trabahante ng gobyerno…I need your toil and work. I am not asking for it, nor am I pleading for it. It is your duty to help your country,” the president added.
Drugs and terrorism
The President also said drugs and terrorism were usually interconnected; he instructed the local executives to use police force to counter narco-terrorism.
“If they are not doing anything sipain mo…or report to General Año, isumbong mo…hindi yan papayag tatamad lalo na corrupt na police,” he said.
He warned the mayors not to get involved in drugs otherwise they would be held accountable and face sanctions.
“I am not threatening. I’m here just to remind you na kung pwede lang huwag, kasi magkaka-engkwentro talaga tayo,” he said.
He told them he instructed Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año to conduct an investigation should there be a failure of governance in a municipality or city because of illegal drug proliferation.
“That is why sabi ko noon kay General Año…If I see a place and the governance is not working because of drugs and everything, I told him to investigate and file the charges. Neglect of duties, serious neglect of duties,” president Duterte said.
Policemen, barangay captains addicted to drugs, involved in drug-related activities
The President disclosed that based on the government’s record, there were 14,000 policemen who were addicted to drugs and 9,000 barangay captains involved in the illegal drug trade.
“I said I’d finish it (drug problem) in six months. I did not know then that even the police generals were into it,” the president pointed out.
The president called on the local leaders to help and cooperate in order to solve this problem for the benefit of all Filipinos.
“We can make it as a nation actually. If we just cooperate with each other, we can make this nation not really great, but a workable, comfortable country for all,” he said.
