KILLERS LEAVE MARK Gunmen who killed early on Saturday Ernesto Posadas, Panubigan village chief, in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, spray-painted allegations that he was a “traitor to the NPA.” The Communist Party of the Philippines denied any involvement in the series of killings in the province.
MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday warned he would “do something drastic” to address the continuing lawless violence in the Philippines, following the spate of killings in Negros Oriental.
“ I will explain in the coming days. But I’m about to do something drastic. It will not sit well with everybody, maybe including you, but it is needed,” Duterte said in a speech at the anniversary of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Pasay City.
“Sinabi ko sa inyo, wala akong ambisyon mag-diktador,” he added.
Duterte did not elaborate his statement but presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier said the President might declare martial law in Negros Oriental over the killings in the province.
READ: Duterte may declare martial law in Negors Oriental – Palace
“In some parts of the PH, everything is not going well. [I’m talking] about Negros; the killing there has not stopped. It has gone unabated, unbridled, unstoppable, at lahat ng halos na barangay captain, nasa atin, yun yung legal natin eh. Namamatay. Pinapatay talaga ng mga p…i…,” Duterte said.
The President also warned the New People’s Army (NPA), tagged by the government to be behind the killings in Negros Oriental, that their atrocities should stop.
“So itong NPA, nagwa-warning ako, this cannot go on,” he said, adding that he would also arm the country’s firemen to help maintain peace and order.
“You know you have to help in the law and order. You are not limited to just fire. That’s a bull shit idea. You have to go around and help the policeman and the military,” he said.
Duterte said he would talk to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu who are both retired military generals.
“Tayo naman because of the vastness, we cannot cover every inch of the way. We are, it’s still in the works, I don’t know if it will pass through. I have to talk to Año, Cimatu yung lahat ng mga dumaan sa anti-insurgency, Esperon, Estares yung galing Davao, how they will do it. But marami na kasing patay sa Negros. Hindi ko na matanggap yan. Principal, maya’t maya ko na sabihin sa inyo,” he said.