(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday threatened to suspend mayors who could not “control” the drug problem in their cities, saying they were supposed to protect their constituents.
“I will not return police power to you (if you can’t control the problem). Wala akong pakialam sa inyo,” he said during the commemoration of the 19th anniversary of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption in Malacanang.
Duterte reiterated that the drug “apparatus” needed to be destroyed, as he showed an updated list of public officials–as of Aug. 8–allegedly engaged in illegal drug activities.
In the list, he said, was one judge in Manila who had around 1000 drug cases, but never convicted any accused.
“Pu**** i** na huwes ito,” he said.
He also called out Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, and Daantabayan, Cebu Mayor Vicente Loot, who was one of several high-ranking police officials he publicly said was engaged in illegal drug activities.
Espinosa, the father of known druglord Kerwin Espinosa, was killed in his detention cell while police were serving a search warrant there.
The police had argued Espinosa–who at that time was facing drug-related charges, among others— had fired at them first, prompting them to retaliate.
Loot has also been criminally charged.
https://youtu.be/iDCO-pKHzu4
