HAPPY SOLDIERS. President Rodrigo R. Duterte has good news for the soldiers with the announcement of a salary hike during his visit to Camp Lapu-Lapu, the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command on Friday night. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
President Rodrigo Duterte did not release the names of local officials with links to the illegal drug trade as anticipated but another top anti-drug official revealed that more prominent personalities from Cebu, including politicians, are on the drug watch list of law enforcement units in the country.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Isidro Lapeña, while visiting Cebu City yesterday, revealed they were monitoring these prominent Cebuanos who were linked to illegal drugs operation aside from businessman Peter Lim and retired police general Vicente Loot, who were previously named by President Rodrigo Duterte and who have both denied links to the illicit trade.
“I’m not sure from which sectors they come from. What I know is there are (Cebuano) politicians. I don’t remember the number. Their participation vary from protectors, drug trafficking and pushing,” he said in a media conference held hours before the arrival here of President Duterte.
Duterte, speaking before soldiers gathered at Bondad Hall of Camp Lapu-Lapu, the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command (CentCom) in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, said there are mayors, governors and even judges involved in the illegal drug trade but he did not name names.
Instead, he reiterated his zero tolerance policy against criminals, particularly those involved in illegal drugs, and told the soldiers not to fear if they end up killing crime suspects, saying he would have them pardoned if convicted by courts or by the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Kaya kung mag papardon maski isang libong pulis araw-araw (I can have even up to one thousand policemen pardoned every day),” the President said.
Duterte said he has no qualms about ordering the killing of unrepentant criminals because he knew he is immune from suit and cannot be arrested.
Even if cases would be filed against him after his term as president ends, Duterte said since he would be 77 years old by then, by law, he could no longer be jailed.
“Itong mga drug lords, mayors and governors huwag kayong mag kumpyansa sa akin….ipapatay ko talaga kayo. (I will) Pardon (those who killed you)!” the President said.
But amid the tough talk against criminals, the President visibly softened as he talked about the benefits that will be granted to the men and women of AFP, such as his order to double the pay of soldiers by the end of the year.
Duterte announced the new equipment that he will be giving to the AFP Medical Center. This include gamma X-ray, high pressure oxygen chamber, and an MRI machine.
He said he has also directed that the purchases of war materiel would be negotiated and not go to the lowest bid to ensure the soldiers are equipped with the best.
“I do not need your personal loyalty. Just love your country and obey the constitution,” he added.
Duterte also asked the military to provide a space in their camps for drug rehabilitation centers.
Duterte was scheduled to arrive at 4:15 p.m. at the Centcom headquarters but arrived past 7 p.m. at the Mactan Air Base from Capiz, where he also visited another military camp, the Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan town.
The President held a security briefing with top AFP officials led by Lt. Gen. Nicanor Vicar, Centcom commander, before he spoke before some 300 soldiers for the “Talk to Men” event past 10 p.m.
Lapeña, on the other hand, visited the PDEA-Central Visayas office in Cebu City Friday afternoon and met with its new regional director, Yogi Filemon Ruiz, and the agency’s operatives.
Asked if they have sufficient evidence against those in their watch list, Lapeña did not give a straight answer. “We have a target list and these are validated (intelligence) reports,” he said.
However, Lapeña later admitted that they find it difficult to pin down drug personalities.
“You know drug lords have a way of doing their business. It’s not that easy although we know that they are the one. We will do what it takes because it’s the future of our generation that is at stake,” he said.
In an earlier television interview, Lapeña claimed that the Peter Lim alluded to as a big-time drug lord by Duterte is the Cebuano businessman who personally met with the President to clear his name.
Lapeña said the National Bureau of Investigation is on top of the investigation against Lim.
“As an agency involved in the campaign against illegal drugs, PDEA will assist the NBI,” he said.
Lapeña yesterday said Lim has been on the PDEA drug watch list even before he assumed as the agency’s director general last month.
“Nandoon na siya eh (He’s been there). Of course, that list was a product of inter-agency work,” he said.
While Lim is on their list, Lapeña said the Cebuano businessman was not arrested because investigators were gathering sufficient evidence to ensure that whatever case would be filed against him in court would prosper.
Lapeña called on the citizenry to help President Duterte and the government address the drug problem.
“You know that the problem on illegal drugs is very, very serious and alarming. It undermines our society. If we won’t be able to address this, our children and relatives might become a victim sooner or later,” he said.
“That is why the president is very determined to address this problem. If he won’t do it within his time [as president], we might not have the opportunity in the future,” he added.
Lapeña said the number of people who reported to authorities about the illegal drug operations in their respective areas has increased since Duterte assumed the presidency.
“The campaign against illegal drugs is very encouraging. We have significant accomplishments since July 1,” Lapeña said.
He said the government also intends to put up more rehabilitation centers across the country.
“There will be livelihood programs so drug pushers and users will become productive individuals and go back to mainstream society,” he added.
Lapeña said collaboration with all sectors of society is needed in fighting illegal drugs.
“The President can’t do it alone. The government can’t do it alone. They key here is the participation of our people,” he said.