Duterte mulls island prison for drug convicts
President Rodrigo Duterte is eyeing an island prison for drug convicts who are beyond redemption.
Speaking to the troops at Camp Gen. Macario B. Peralta Jr. in Capiz, Duterte on Friday said he would isolate “‘yung mga loko-loko na talaga” drug addicts “because they cause danger to the society.”
“Maghanap ako ng parang Iwahig at Culion,” he said.
Iwahig is a minimum security prison facility in the outskirts of Palawan while Culion is a secluded island with the largest concentration of lepers in the world.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II earlier said the government was “seriously considering” the transfer of high-profile drug lords at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to an island prison.
Aguirre said they were considering the Caballo island off Manila Bay or an island in Palawan.
In his speech, Duterte said the drug addicts who had surrendered to the government would undergo rehabilitation.
“They would (undergo) rehabilitation,” he said, reiterating his earlier pronouncement of using military camps as rehabilitation centers.
“Now there are about 600 confirmed addicts. Kaya I’ve ordered you to provide the space. Kayo kasi ang malalaki riyan. Hindi naman malalaki, isang kanto lang, barbed wire high. They are, they will go … undergo rehab. Pero one year of use of ‘shabu,’ wala na ‘yan because the brain by then shall have shrunk, liliit ‘yan. So loko-loko na talaga ‘yan forever,” the President said.
“So ‘yung maiwan nang ganon (drug addict), hindi naman lahat ng panahon kunin ko ‘yung kampo ninyo…ilalayo ko na talaga because they pose a danger to society and there could be hundreds of them. I have to relocate them in an island,” he added.
Pardon, legal aid
In his government’s no-nonsense war against illegal drugs and criminality, Duterte promised assistance to state forces if they got involved in trouble while doing their mandate.
“In all the things that you do, upon the orders of your commanders in the performance of your duty, do it. Huwag kayong matakot ng kaso. Meron iyan. But I’ll see to it nobody goes to prison just exactly for doing a duty,” he said.
The President promised to grant pardon to law enforcers facing complaints for fulfilling their duty.
“Kasi kung magkamali sila, pardon. The President can grant pardon, absolute or conditional. Ang Presidente hindi mo mademanda o sige larga tayo. Giyera? O sige. Patayin mo lahat ng mga p***** i** iyan. ‘Sir, may kaso kami.’ Pardon. Ganoon kakapal, good for one battalion. O fill in the blank. Pirmado ko na iyan. Ilagay mo pangalan mo. ‘Pag punta mo doon sa Ombudsman, sa fiscal, oh, oh,” he said.
Despite criticisms from human rights group, the President said “there would be no let-up” in his war against illegal drugs and criminality. “Wala akong pakialam sa human rights. I have a problem to solve. I must first solve the problem of the country,” he said.
The 71-year old Chief Executive praised state forces for their passion to serve the country.
“I am happy that you have the fire in your belly to serve the country,” he said.
“One thing you can be sure of, ‘di ko kayo iiwan,” he added.
