Duterte says death of boy in drug raid ‘unfortunate’

DUTERTE

DAVAO CITY—Mayor Rodrigo Duterte defended authorities against criticisms over the death of a 14-year-old boy in a drug raid in a village here, saying the child was hit in the crossfire and police were only “doing their duty.”

As the city intensifies its war on illegal drugs, Duterte gave no assurance that a similar case would not happen in the future.

“It was done in connection with the performance of their duty of arresting criminals,” he said, referring to the death of 14-year-old Ronald Asari Lebante of Purok 12, Barangay Tibungco, during the Feb. 21 raid conducted by the Davao City Police, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group  and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

‘Unfortunate’

“They were on a specific mission to search for and arrest people connected with drugs. But they (suspects) fought back, and unfortunately, the child was hit,” Duterte said on Tuesday, four days after the dawn raid that killed seven people, including the minor.

Police accounts differed from those circulating in the community, which said no one was able to put up a fight during the raid because everyone was caught by surprise when the agents came.

Duterte said the police were not ready to say whose bullet had hit the child.

“But they (police) said, and I believe them, that it happened in the heat of the gunfight,” the mayor said. “I read the report and was satisfied with the explanation,” he said.

He said he had not yet talked to the parents of the child but added that he wanted to talk to the community because he was “interested to know why the drug trade is flourishing in that area.”

Flea market

He described the area of Ilang, Tibungco, as a flea market of drugs, with several houses catering to “clients.” He also said Ilang, Tibungco, had recently replaced the “mini forest” area on Quezon Boulevard here as the new hotbed for illegal drugs in the city.

As to the Korean caught during the raid, Duterte said, “He would be entitled to all the rights in the Constitution and international law, but he will have to face the music.”

“He is under arrest,” the mayor said.

“For as long as there is shabu in my city, there will be continuing war,” he said. “I’m declaring war on drugs.”

When asked what should be done to prevent minors from being hit in the crossfire, he said drugs put everyone’s life in danger. Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao