Duterte wants ‘crooked’ cops in recycling of drugs ‘killed’

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte slammed Tuesday the reported recycling of illegal drugs seized from anti-narcotics operations by some police officers.

Duterte said police officers who engage in the practice should be killed.

“‘Yang recycle na sinasabi, pu******* patayin mo talaga lahat ng pulis na crooked,” Duterte said in a speech during the oath-taking of newly appointed government officials in Malacañang.

Duterte issued the statement after Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Aaron Aquino said “recycling” of seized illegal drugs by law enforcers remains “rampant.”

Duterte’s presidency has been marred with allegations of violations of human rights as he enforced a brutal war on drugs since assuming office in 2016.

Aquino’s revelation has raised doubts about the credibility of Duterte’s drug war.

But National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar disputed Aquino’s claim, noting that there could only be “isolated and limited” cases of drug recycling in Metro Manila.

However, Duterte backed Aquino, saying that policemen recycling drugs really exist.

The President also admitted that drug trade in Metro Manila was being controlled by inmates.

“Everybody who has been there (BuCor) to manage, hirap na hirap,” he said.