Duterte warns cops against unofficial use of patrol cars

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the inauguration of the new Communications, Navigation, Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Systems Development Project at the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center (PATMC) in Pasay City on January 16, 2018, issues a stern warning on the local government officials who are found to be inefficient in their service. SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

DAVAO CITY — Police officers who drink and drive and use their patrol cars for practice driving and going to bars, be warned.

President Rodrigo Duterte said he was once so enraged over being disobeyed that he slapped and kicked a drunken officer who crashed a police pickup truck newly acquired by Davao City when he was its mayor.

Speaking on Monday at ceremonies for the turnover of 26 Mitsubishi Montero SUVs donated by the Japanese government to the Davao City police on Monday, Mr. Duterte reminded officers to “obey orders that are really good for you.”

“There was this stupid policeman—drunk … But he drove one of those new Isuzu pickups that I just bought at that time … [and] crashed it,” said Mr. Duterte, who also became known as “The Punisher” for his tough approach to crime.

“I slapped him twice and kicked him in the stomach,” he added.

SUV donations

“I already said that, ‘Do not drive them and practice, especially when you are drunk,’” he said.

He said the SUVs donated to the city were “not cheap” and even considered luxury vehicles by ordinary Filipinos and should be well maintained so they could last “for 50 years or more.”

The Japanese donation to Davao was part of 100 Monteros for the police in various Philippine cities.

In Davao City, Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda turned over the 26 cars to the Philippine National Police at its Regional Crime Laboratory Office.

“They are hard to come by in the lifetime of a city and the one that’s given to you is almost a luxury car to us,” Mr. Duterte said.

He said the public would never accept an explanation by the police that they could not respond to an emergency because officers had no cars to use.

As a final warning, he said: “I do not want you parking in … I do not want to see policemen, cars, in the entertainment houses.”