FULL TEXT: President Duterte on top cops involved in drug trade

President Rodrigo Duterte names top cops allegedly involved in illegal drugs trade
Speech during the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Airforce
Clark Airbase, Pampanga | July 5, 2016

Salamat po. I was given this morning a prepared speech. It was all motherhood statements and I felt that I had to do something more for the country for it is my moral duty, my obligation by my oath of office that you should know what is happening to the country.

Alam mo, ang problema natin is criminality, drugs, corruption, human trafficking, [and] corruption lalo na sa gobyerno. Dito sa criminality, iisahin ko na lang. Lalong lumala ang ating law and order with the advent of… Just given them tikas pahinga. Give tikas pahinga to the troops.

The law and order of the country have become really a very serious problem for all of us. It has deteriorated with the advent of drugs because of the corrosive effect of money.

I am very sad but on the drug scene, we have long … we all long suspected na may maraming mga pulis sa gobyerno na involved sa drugs. I am not ready yet with the other branches of government agencies kagaya ng Customs. I still have to validate it, but I already have the raw information.

READ: Duterte names top cops allegedly involved in illegal drugs trade

I am compelled by my sense of duty na sabihin sa inyo lahat lalo na ‘yung mga pulis na nasabit sa droga, one way or the other, have contributed to the deterioration of the law and order of this country.

What is really I said sad is that ito ‘yung mga tao who were given the honor to join the academies of our country, be at the PNP (Philippine National Police) or the PMA (Philippine Military Academy) at the expense of the public.

And they had these careers of theirs. All along, tayong mga mamamayan thought that we are being protected by the police primarily. Masakit pakinggan kasi ginastusan mo na, binayaran mo ‘yung pag-aaral niya, lahat ng uniporme, pati medyas niya, pati sapatos gastos mo, tapos you commit. By any language it is really treason.

And I’d like to name publicly: General Marcelo Garbo, he was a protector of the drug syndicates in this country; General Vicente Loot, who is now the mayor of Cebu in one of the municipalities of Cebu; General (Bernardo) Diaz, the former regional director of Region 11; General (Joel) Pagdilao, former regional director NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office), General (Eduardo) Tinio, former QCPD (Quezon City Police District) director.

BACKSTORY: Duterte warns 3 ‘corrupt’ PNP officers: Resign or be humiliated

As this time, I ordered them relieved from their assignments and report to the Director General. I would like to talk to them but certainly I would expect the Police Commission to do their thing. Imbestihagan ninyo ito at huwag ninyong akong bigyan ng zarzuela na ano. Hanapin ninyo ang totoo.

Kasi overnight, I was really trying to figure out, I do not necessarily humiliate people. It’s not my practice. Politiko ako eh. Kung mayor, mayor lang ako. Wala naman akong kasali diyan sa bayan na ‘yan, the Republic of the Philippines, eh ‘di OK lang.

But dumating ako sa position na ito and I said I have the sacred obligation to the Filipino people. By my oath of office, I have to tell you the truth. And the truth for the moment is … Itong mga ito, after so many validations, even if I was still mayor of Davao City, lumalabas na itong mga pangalan na ito. Talagang lumalabas na at nakikita mo naman ngayon, with the intensification of the criminal syndicates and the drug distribution, marami nang namamatay at marami pang mamamatay.

At huwag kayong sumali diyan, maski pulis kayo, maski opisyal kayo, because you will place yourself in the line of fire. Hindi ako mayabang, politiko ako and I keep silent. Sige lang, areglo dito, “OK lang.” Pero huwag ninyong sirain ang bayan.

I have been warning everybody: At the end of my speeches, when I was campaigning for the presidency, I always end it by saying, “Do not destroy my country because I will kill you. Do not destroy the young people of this country because I will kill you.” Kapag hindi pa naman sapat sa lahat ‘yan ay ewan ko, what else.

So the campaign against drugs will continue. Hopefully in the fullest of God’s time, I may not be able really to clean it three to six months, but by the that time siguro, three months, six months and one day after, medyo tapos na. May partida lang ng isang araw.

So you work overtime and I’ll be there with you to supervise everything. Now, let me be very, very clear: I have told upon the Armed Forces of the Philippines to help.

Maswerte ako kasi si Presidente (Gloria Macapagal) Arroyo, during her watch, raised the level of the drug problem as a national security threat. And, therefore, paving the way for me to watch the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Air Force, Navy, Army to help in the campaign. Mabuti na lang nandyan iyang … I said it was a proclamation, I think, of President Arroyo long before.

It’s going to be a dirty fight. It’s going to be bloody fight. I am not apologizing for it. And may I tell all and sundry, lahat, even the international community, lahat ng madidisgrasya, magkakaso, anumang kaso under the Revised Penal Code, in the fulfillment of your duties as public authority, akin iyan. Mine and mine alone. I assume full legal responsibility for it. Huwag kayong matakot basta nasa tama tayo.

Just observe the law … Hindi kasi alam mo (Because you know), when I tell–itong mga bugok, alam mo ba magsabi ako “shoot to kill,” it means to say that when you are there, hunting for the idiot and you think that there is a fight that could result in your demise and then why would you die? Shoot first. But only when you think that your life is in danger, that is a–pabalik-balik iyan sa two years ‘yung mga pulis na two years lang ang ano. Lalo na ‘yung grumaduate ng PNP, alam ninyo na ‘yan.

So itong mga major na ito, hayaan mo ‘yan kasi hindi naman dumadaan ng pulis ‘yan. All of them are not lawyers. When I say reward, dead or alive, it means the same thing. There are laws to be observed before you do it. What am I into in my messages? I just want you to be brave at huwag kayong patakot-takot mamatay dahil trabaho ninyo iyan. Pinili naman ninyo iyan, hindi naman kayo pinilit na magpunta diyan.

Ngayon kung magpunta ka sa pulis, iyon ang masakit. Kayo lahat ha, it’s not the appropriate time for me to be lecturing pero kayo do not–not within the six years that I will be …  Huwag kayong–magkadisgrasyahan tayo niyan. Sinasabi ko madidisgrasya kayo at madidisgrasya kayo. Hindi ako uurong dito and I said, I would stake my honor, my life and even the presidency, kaya kong bitawan ‘yan.

I do not have any illusions about being there all the time or hanging on to the pressure. Nandito na rin ako, gawin ko na ang gawin ko. Kasi maraming presidente ang dumaan sa bayan natin na, ano ang nangyari? E kasi hindi rin niya pinapakinggan e. Iyan ang mahirap.

Now the problem with …

Let me give you a lecture about the human rights. Sabi nila noon, ‘ito si (They said before that) Duterte is advocating for death by hanging, heinous crimes. Kasi noon meron tayong (Before, we had) death penalty. Ano ang sinasabi nila (What were they saying)? Really the naive, the naive … the human being. “Meron naman tayong human rights noon, Mayor Duterte.”

‘Bat hindi man–sabi “It is a deterrence.” It might deter, prevent, obstruct or at least make him realize that there is a death penalty. Kaya dapat tatlo tayo, it deters you from committing a crime. Sabi nitong mga–gusto kong–ang mga ulo ninyo e. “Ano itong mga ito?” “E nandiyan naman ‘yan”. “Tama bakit?” Tapos, “wala man.” Did it deter crimes from committing? The criminals? Why? So what is the reason?

I’ll give you a reason very simple: Because it was not implemented and it was as if there was no death penalty provisions under the Revised Penal Code. Nandiyan e. So wala na ‘yung batas, mukhang itinumba mo na. But it could be reimplemented.

Dito ngayon ako, humihingi ako na ibalik ‘yung death penalty at deterrence and hindi kasi nila sinasabi iyan eh. Retribution. Deterrence baka ma-discourage ka pero pagka nagkamali ka, you pay and that is retribution. Magbayad ka sa kasalanan mo. Bakit ka mag… Ngayon? Rape with homicide nakakalabas. They can always threaten the witnesses. Pero ito nga sinasabi ko, parehong pulis. Commit crimes diyan sa EDSA harap-harapan nag-kidnap ng tao, anak ka ng, para naman sinuswerte talaga.

Inaabuso ninyo ang Pilipinas and I will not go for it. And sila even the heinous, even the heinous crimes. If they commit it, nawawala lang ‘yan sila. Then sasabihin nila “nag-AWOL na,” but he is just there. He is not being arrested because he is a police officer or because kabaro nila, ganun. So na-file ‘yung kaso pagtawag ng testigo, wala. So ‘yung kaso matabi muna, archive. In the meantime, itong mga gago, nakikiramdam lang siya, if the witness is already dead, if the witness has transferred to other places, if the witness cannot be located because he has paid the server. I was doing trial work, nagpo-prosecutor ako 10 years. Babayaran lang ang server tapos ilagay “cannot be located or have transferred residence.”

Kaya pagdating e ‘di malaman niya ‘yung ganun ayos na, he appears suddenly before the judge. Su-surrender iyan: “Your honor, my client would like to–his realization about his…” Iyon mga melodramatic. “He’s now ready to face the consequences of the act—murder, kidnapping… OK?”

He is… If non-bailable he’s sent to a penal institution somewhere. Diyan lang ‘yan siya. The next day, trial. Abugado: “Your honor, we are ready. That is why we surrendered because we expect justice immediately. E, kung may kasalanan kami, pakulong na kaagad your honor, ready kami for trial.” Dadating ang server, fiscal or prosecutor: “Ready?” “Your honor, I am sorry to inform the court that I have no witness at this time.” “Why?” “Your honor the service of the summona says he cannot be located.”

Walang gagong piskal sa Pilipinas lalabas ng opisina niya, maghanap ng testigo niya. Walang gagong pulis uutusan mo na “hanapin mo ‘yan.” I ordered for the arrest. In the meantime, ako, sasabihin ko: “If my witness will not appear, I will move for his arrest.” And then I will ask the judge: “Maghintay ka judge kasi hinahanap ko pa ‘yung witness ko.”

But on the third postponement: “O, fiscal, ready?” “Your honor, I’m not ready your honor.” “Why?” “Same answer your honor.” They will invoke.

“Your honor,” sabi ng defense, “I move to dismiss the case because my client has been deprived of speedy trial which is granted under the Constitution.”

We just cannot do anything. And a dismissal because there are no witnesses or there is no witness is a dismissal with prejudice. Meaning to say, you cannot file the case anymore. Anong gagawin ko? Noon piskal ako. I just can really bite my tongue. Ngayon, isipin mo ako ngayon, kung ganunin mo ang korte, ganunin mo ako, ganunin mo ang bayan, anong mangyari sa’yo? Mamili kayo. Mamili kayo. Huwag ninyong lokohin ang bayan sa panahon ko kasi hindi ako papayag. That goes for all — criminality.

Hanggang ngayon ‘di pa makuha sa … Nandito ‘yung ating Director General. ‘Yung kidnapping, ‘yung mga carnapping. Ito si Evangelista, ‘yung ardent nasa VACC ngayon. Ito ‘yung tatay na nag-drive doon sa casa ng kotse, may-ari man anak niya. Diretso-diretso na kinarnap, sinunog pa ‘yung katawan. Bakit mo ba ganunin? Kung patayin mo na ‘yung tao, bakit mo susunugin? E kung ilantad mo lang diyan. Bakit mo… Why do you —?

Itong mga Chinese community, time and again. About siguro mga 42, 43, I do not know. But I’m sure over 40. Kidnap, anak bata, magbayad ransom, wala na. Sige pa rin hingi-hingi. ‘Yun pala, wala na talaga. Sa Davao sabihin ko sa inyo totoo: Lahat na-kidnap doon, patay. Hindi ako… Hindi ko kayo tinatakot. You go and check the records. Lahat nang na-kidnap sa Davao, patay. Hindi ako natatakot. I’m not addressing myself to the human rights. What’ll I get? I said I’m ready to go down. I’m ready to stake my honor and even my life. Stop!

Then we have the corruption in government. Again it has to stop. Decades of corruption. Wala na talaga ang tao mapuntahan. Maski ako ‘nong fiscal ako, I want to go to the postal office to get my things there and even my mother, may ipinapadala ‘yung… mag—bayad talaga. Stop! You place yourself in jeopardy of going to prison.

Lahat ‘yang mga fixer fixer, stop! I hope Faeldon would do his thing. Stop corruption sa Customs. At si Billy Dulay, I know him. He’s very good, he’s honest, I hope he can deliver. I don’t mind na it will be a lesser income for … I am prepared for that, but do not … Kayong mga BIR, stop because I will make a trail out of you. Lahat ngayon binabantayan. And I will use technical, if you understand what is technical. Makikinig ako sa’yo. That’s the only way to fight corruption. Illegal din ‘yan. Of course, it is illegal, only when I present the evidence in court. E ‘pag hindi ko presenta ‘yung evidence sa korte, ayaw kitang ipakulong, patayin kita, ‘di tabla rin. Mahirap kasi ‘yung ganon.

Siguro pati terorista. That is our problem. The coming serious problem of the country, terrorism. We have to beef up the police—I need about 3,000 men more. There are problems of the country confronting us eyeball to eyeball. I cannot move. I have to bide my time because I need equipment. The things that I saw na wala dito, which I cannot discuss with you, but which I can discuss with the military and the police.

Panahon na—I am sure that this is the time for, you know, landing softly. Kayong nabubuhay diyan with the extra frills, ang sweldo mo per diem mo lang ‘yan kasi meron kang kinikita. Well, this time, we have to learn how to live frugally and toned down. We are used to buying cars for everybody in the family. Well, I’m sorry. Do not do that because I will—the lifestyle checks would be all the year round. And I would know from your garage, kung tingnan ko, kung ilan ang kotse mo.

Ganon. I’m sorry I have to say this in public, in front. But before I forget, I’d like to congratulate and my salute to the Philippine Air Force on their 69th Anniversary. I have seen you in action. I have been mayor for 23 years. We did a lot of things together. ‘Yung iba nag-retire na, ‘yung iba nandiyan pa. Sabagay kayong, those of you who have observed me close, maintindihan na ninyo ako. These are the things I cannot really swallow. And there are things which I cannot swallow until now but I cannot move because nanghingi lang ako ng timing.

So lahat ito kasi kailangan natin, more than at any other time, ganon rin ang i-a-announce ko na kailangan ninyo tumulong sa bayan. I am sure that kayong mga security forces, you will have all the things that you need. I will see to that. Lahat kailangan. We will acquire more helicopters and night vision capability. ‘Yan ang nagha-hamper e. If I have that then we can improve our performance.

Good that we are talking to the Communist Party of the Philippines. It’s doing well and we hope to have a firm agreement by the end of the year if Sison would come home. I am ready to give him a safe conduct pass. And ‘yung Tiamzon spouses pati si Jalandoni. I am not ready to release everybody. Only after the success of the talks, if there’s one coming our way bago ko sila i-release, now we can grant amnesty but they have to lay down their arms.

Sa Mindanao, we have so many protracted wars there. I am talking to the MILF, I’ve been communicating with Nur. Maybe, we’ll go to Jolo and talk to him before we formally agree to talk officially. I have my team already. I would not mention them now but they are ready sa government side. Abu Sayyaf, I said, there will always be a time for reckoning and it will come. Hintay lang kayo.

On the West Philippine Sea, we remain optimistic that the judgment will be in our favor and if it’s not then we will accept it as part of a country who honors international commitments that is by the Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ). When if it’s favorable to us, let’s talk. We are not prepared to go to war. War is a dirty word now, but we will proceed accordingly after we shall have the copy of the arbitral judgment. We will always decide for the greater interest of our country. In the meantime, we’re just hopeful for that.

So again, I repeat: The drive against crime, criminality and drugs will continue. Pati ‘yung mga—do not so much focus on… I’m reminding the police, focus on ‘yung mga drugs lang. Do not forget the—Sabagay, naglipatan na lahat e. Itong kidnap for ransom, murder for hire, ‘wag ninyong palusutin ‘yan. Pero ‘yung iba nag-shift na lahat because ang drugs mura, madali itago at pera kaagad.

I said, I gave everybody, every general I think of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, meron silang kopya ‘yung kay Ioan Grillo. He’s the guy who wrote about the sad state of South America and those countries who’ve fallen to narcopolitics. If not interdicted, itong droga na ito, especially Retired General Vicente Loot of Class ’82, PMA siguro ‘to. He’s now the mayor of a municipality. Narcopolitics ‘yan. And, a host of other cities na hindi na-validate ng — gusto ko kasi ‘yung validated talaga. Itong sa ibang lugar pumunta, nagtatanong talaga ako. I go there and ask.

I hope that we would have a brighter tomorrow of children safe from being harmed. Itong mga kriminal, maski saan, Pandancan, Sta. Ana, Tondo, the criminals have hijacked. They have taken over the public streets and public places. Ang ating mga anak, hindi na sila makapasyal. And every time magsasakay ng bus, ‘yung mga anak natin na hindi naman–hindi naman lahat mayaman e, nagpapawis na ‘yung kamay and they are under stress because “holdup.”

We have to remove that fear. We have to remove that fear. Let us transfer that fear in the hearts of the criminals. Kaya kayong mga kriminal, huwag kayong magpasakay-sakay lang ng bus. Baka hold up-in kayo ng pulis. Kayong mga kidnappers, huwag kayong mag-kidnap kasi maabutan kayo ng tactical team ng Air Force, baka kayo ang ma-kidnap, na ngayon hingian kayo ng pera, wala kang pera. Kung ako ang Air Force, ki-kidnapin kita because marami ka nang kinidnap, tapos sabihin mo “saan pera mo?” “Wala sir e, kasi nagastos na sa sabungan.” O, ‘di patayin kita. Wala ka pa lang pera e. So ‘wag ka magpa-kidnap, kidnap kung wala kang pera kasi kidnapper ka, tapos kung ikaw ang ma-kidnap wala kang maibigay, tapos ka rin.

Ganon lang ang buhay ‘di ba? It’s retribution. If the courts cannot give it, somebody will—God.

Maraming salamat po.

Source: Presidential Communications Operations Office