CLARK FIELD, Pampanga – It’s going to be a bloody fight.
That was the stern warning of President Rodrigo Duterte against criminals, especially those involved in illegal drug trade.
But Duterte told law enforcement authorities to “observe the law.”
“It’s going to be a dirty fight. It’s going to be bloody fight. I am not apologizing for it,” the President said during his speech at the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force here.
The chief executive assured policemen and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that he would be at their back supporting them “in the fulfillment of your duties as public authority,” especially when they face charges.
“I assume full legal responsibility for it. Huwag kayong matakot basta nasa tama tayo. Just observe the law,” he said.
He reiterated his shoot to kill orders to criminals resisting arrest.
“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,” he said.
Duterte made these statements as he named five police generals involved in illegal drug trade or protection of drug syndicates.
He tagged former Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy director Gen. Marcelo Garbo Jr., Gen. Vicente Loot, Gen. Bernardo Diaz of Police Regional Office 6, former National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Joel Pagdilao, and former Quezon City Police District (QCPD) chief Edgardo Tinio.
The President, who arrived wearing a barong Tagalog and jeans past 2 p.m., said he was given a prepared speech on Tuesday morning but decided to do an impromptu speech, citing his prepared speech was all motherhood statements.
“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,” he said.
