Duterte bares dumping of drug lords’ corpses in Manila Bay, Mt. Province

MANILA, Philippines—Addressing criticisms that his controversial war on drugs only targets small-time drug suspects, President Rodrigo Duterte revealed on Thursday that he dumped corpses of drug lords in Manila Bay and at the ravines of Mt. Province.

Speaking at the awarding ceremony for the Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities in Malacañang, Duterte said his brutal war on drugs has so far neutralized a number of drug lords but didn’t announce it in public.

“Itong mga idiotong kolumnista, wala daw nakuha. Hindi niyo lang alam. Baka hindi niyo alam ilan tinapon ko diyan sa Manila Bay,” Duterte said.

(These idiot columnists said we have not killed drug lords. You just didn’t’ know. You may not know how many bodies I threw in Manila Bay.)

“Mga yawa kayo. Baka gusto niyo pati kayo. Bakit? Nag announce ba kami drug lord si ano tinapon ko sa Laguna de Bay, ‘yung isa hinulog ko sa Mt. Province dun sa ravine? Do I have to advertise that? Ulol pala kayo,” he added.

(You want it, too? Why? Did we announce that we dumped drug lords’ bodies at Laguna de Bay? The other one I dropped him off at the ravines of Mt. Province? Do I have to advertise that? You’re crazy.)

Since taking power in 2016, Duterte has made the crackdown on illegal drugs the focal point of his administration, continuing the brutal campaign against illegal drugs which he used in Davao City while being its mayor.

Over 5,500 individuals have been killed, according to data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. But human rights groups have counted that as much as 27,000 lives have been claimed by the drug war death and by unknown hitmen.