Duterte’s threat to crooked cops is ‘support’ for PNP — official

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte vents his anger at policemen facing various complaints as these were presented to him in Malacañan on Tuesday, August 7, 2018.   RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte’s threat to kill crooked policemen on national television is a sign of his support for the police force, an official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Duterte rained expletives on 102 policemen from Metro Manila and nearby provinces allegedly involved in kidnap-for-ransom, extortion, robbery, and serious illegal detention, among others.

READ: In profanity-laden outburst, Duterte threatens to kill ‘crooked cops’

“The fact na pinadala niya doon yung mga tiwaling pulis na mangilan-ngilan lamang sa aming hanay ay simbolo ng pagsuporta sa liderato ng ating chief of the Philippine National Police,” PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. told reporters.

(The fact that he sent those crooked policemen who are only a few in our ranks is a sign of his support to the leadership of the chief of the PNP.)

“Kami ay nagpapasalamat sa patuloy na suporta ng ating Pangulo (We thank the President for his continued support),” he said.

Durana said that he understood the President for his tirades against policemen allegedly involved in illegal activities.

“I can share the frustration of the President kasi binigay na niya lahat (because he already gave everything),” he said, referring to the increase in the salaries of policemen.

He also said such police officers should be treated with “extreme prejudice,” while emphasizing that not all of his colleagues are the same.

“We need to emphasize, konti lang po sila (they are only a few),” he said. /cbb