President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he would reward the policeman who killed a “ninja” police colonel in a drug buy-bust operation in Dipolog City on Monday night.
Supt. Santiago Ylanan Rapiz, chief of the logistics branch of the Zamboanga del Norte police, was killed in a shootout as he tried to escape during a drug raid.
READ: Top Zamboanga del Norte cop slain in buy-bust in Dipolog City
Rapiz was tagged as a “ninja cop,” who was allegedly recycling illegal drugs confiscated from drug operations.
“That’s right. I’m going to reward that policeman, any policeman who will kill his superior because the superior is into drugs. I will give you a prize and a trip to Hong Kong,” Duterte said in a speech in Malacañang during a “lecture” on drugs and militarization among Cabinet members.
The President said the drug problem was already “a national conflagration,” citing the involvement of police, mayors and even barangay captains in the narcotics trade.
“If I caught you, I’m sorry. That’s it,” he said.
He reiterated his warning to those involved in the illegal drugs trade.
“I will really kill you. That’s why I said, ‘Do not destroy my country because I will kill you. Do not destroy our young daughters and son because I will kill you’,” he stressed.
He further said the drug problem in the Philippines has become a “national security issue,” that he sought the military to assist the police in dealing with the narcotics problem in the country.
“This is a national security issue. I have every right to call on the Armed Forces to assist the police. Eh mga police ‘yan karamihan mga g***. P***** i** kayo (Many of those are policemen who are stupid. Son of a bit****),” he said.
He then renewed his order for the police to kill “ninja cops” and be rewarded with millions. /kga