Duterte seeks help of village officials in government’s war on drugs

LAPU-LAPU CITY– President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday asked village chiefs here to help him in the fight against illegal drugs.

The President said the support of barangay captains in the campaign is crucial to solving the drug problem that has hounded the country for decades.

“Kamo gyud ang makaputol ani. Layo ra kaayo mi sa taas. (You are ones who can end this problem on illegal drugs),” President Duterte said after he led the oath-taking of 3,013 barangay captains in Central Visayas at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City on Thursday night.

He reiterated his warning to village officials to stay away from the illegal drugs trade, saying that they will suffer the consequences of their actions.

President Duterte said that the involvement of a number of barangay officials in the illegal drugs trade is a big obstacle to solving the problem. He assured them that they can count on him for help in the fight against illegal drugs.

He said he could even provide guns to village chiefs if needed.

“We’ll talk with (Interior) Secretary (Eduardo) Año if we can provide it to you. I can’t decide on that alone,” he said.

In his speech, the President mentioned Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot whom he earlier identified as a drug protector since his days as a police general.

“General Loot, either moundang ka o madisgrasya gyod ka. (General Loot, either you stop your involvement (in illegal drugs) or something bad could happen to you),” he said.

The President also named some of his close aides as potential senators in the future. These include Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, and Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque. /ee