MANILA – Five alleged drug personalities were killed in separate drug bust operations in Davao City just days after Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte declared “war” on illegal drugs in the city.
According to Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Police Captain Hazel Tuazon, those killed from various drug busts since Saturday all resisted arrest.
“Ang DCPO ay laging nagpapaalala sa mga taong involved sa operasyon ng ilegal na droga na huminto na at kung aarestuhin man, dapat kusang sumurender at di manlaban,” Tuazon said in an interview with ABS-CBN.
“Kasi handang magprotekta ang ating mga kapulisan sa kanilang sarili para maprotektahan din ang maraming Dabawenyo na ang hangad ay ligtas na pamayanan para sa kanilang pamilya,” she added.
Mayor Duterte said on Friday that drug pushers would be killed if they would not leave the city; he received reports that illegal drug trade was prevalent anew in his city.
“I repeat, if you don’t leave [the city], if you don’t stop [drug peddling], I will kill you. I can’t afford that the family, the communities would be destroyed just because of your selfish venture,” Duterte said.
“You just want to get rich by selling drugs, then you harm other people because of your greediness, then I will kill you,” he added.
Mayor Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, launched a bloody war on drugs during his term that saw thousands killed in what authorities claimed were legitimate police encounters.
Recently, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said during his meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that he’s opposed to handling the drug menace with violence.
“(Illegal drug trade is) a big problem, but our approach has changed significantly,” Marcos said. “I am diametrically opposed to handling the drug problem in that way, by confrontation, by violence.”
He added: “It really requires so much deeper understanding of the problem and much deeper solution. So, yes, I think that we are also progressing when it comes to that.”/PN
