VICTIMS TWICE-OVER? A human rights lawyer has criticized PDEA for its allegedly harsh treatment of 12 children during an anti-drug operation in Navotas City. The minors were reportedly being used to sell drugs in the fish port area. —RICHARD A. REYES
Updated @ 10:46 p.m., Jan. 22, 2019
MANILA, Philippines – Some children as young as six years old are already involved in the illegal drugs trade, President Rodrigo Duterte claimed on Tuesday, a day after a House panel approved a bill that would lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 9.
“Pag sinira mo ang bayan ko talagang magwawala ako,” the President said in a speech before local leaders in Lucena City. “Kaya ’yung nangyari five days ago, ang nagmi-maintain ngayon ng shabu, ang mga bata. Kung may parokyanong makita nila at naghahanap, dadalhin nila doon, pahithitin nila. Sila na ang kokobra. Pati mga bata shoot na rin sila. As young as 6, 8, 9, 14.”
[I you destroy my country I will lose my temper. So as we can see from what happened five days go, it’s children who are now maintaining shabu. If they see someone looking for it, they will bring them there in the den and make them smoke. They will also collect. Even the children will smoke. As young as 6, 8, 9, 14.]
The President was referring to an operation conducted on Jan. 16 by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), in which they rescued 12 minors in a drug den in Navotas City.
“Kita mo ang ginagawa ng mga ulol? Tapos sabihin mo sa akin sa human rights [when] there is a son of a bitch lying dead there. ‘Yan lang ang worry mo, tapos sinisira ang bayan ko. Putang ina mo, papatayin talaga kita. What are you doing to my country?” he added.
[See what these crazy people are doing. Then they will cry “human rights” when there’s a son of a bitch lying there. That’s the concern while they’re destroying my country. You son of a bitch, I will really kill you. What are you doing to my country?]
He said his war on drugs was a means to ensure “self preservation of the Filipino people,” adding that his duty was “to protect the people and preseve this nation.”
According to Director General Aaron Aquino, chief of PDEA, the President almost cried when he a saw a video of the minors being rescued in the operation.
Aquino said the President was set to meet the minors.
The issue on minors involved in crimes sparked public debate when the House of Representatives’ justice committee approved a bill that would lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 9.
READ: Amid jeers, House panel OKs lower age of criminal liability
Duterte, who has slammed the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act authored by Sen. Francis Pangilinan, has repeatedly said he would want to lower the age of criminal responsibility, but he has been silent on the issue since the House panel passed the bill./gsg /atm