Duterte offers cash rewards vs drugs

DAVAO CITY - Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to give cash rewards to those who can provide information that will lead to the arrest of drug pushers or users in this city.

Duterte in an interview on Monday said for each drug pusher or user reported to authorities, an informant gets a P5,000 reward.

The vice mayor warned over the weekend cohorts of slain police officer Allan Borling Balingit to leave Davao City in 24 hours, or suffer the consequence of their illegal drug business.

Balingit was killed after resisting arrest in a police operation in Barangay 40-D, Bostin Isla on Saturday afternoon. He has gone absent without official leave at the Davao Oriental Provincial Police Office where he was last assigned after testing positive for illegal drugs.

Related to Balingit's case, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has ordered a random drug test among policemen following the killing of Balingit, who is alleged to be involved in illegal drug trade.

"Kung taga-Davao ka ug gusto ka ug kwarta, pagtudlo lang ug usa ka drug pusher or user. Either muadto ka sa pulis o sa asa bang otoridad, singko mil (If you are from Davao City and you want money, just point out a drug pusher or user. Either you will go to the police or any other authorities, you get P5,000)," Duterte said.

Duterte also encouraged different barangay leaders in the city to be more active in reporting suspects involved in illegal drugs.

"The police will have a difficult time of conducting searches in the different barangays since they will have to be issued search warrants. That is why it is up to the barangay captains to do the job since they are still part of the authorities," Duterte said.

"There is no better order for barangay captains than to give them a cash reward so that they will be more pro-active in hunting down drug violators in their respective barangays," he added.

Duterte also welcomed the idea of DCPO Chief Ronald dela Rosa to establish a police outpost or headquarters in Barangay 23-C to intensify the operations against illegal drugs. This barangay is among the most notorious in terms of illegal drug trade, use, and pushing.

Dela Rosa earlier revealed that two more policemen are now being closely monitored for engaging in illegal drugs. He said both cops are from Davao but are assigned outside of the city.

Duterte welcomed Dela Rosa's move and vowed to recommend the dismissal from service of policemen who will be found positive for illegal drugs.
"Ayaw ko ninyo ug binuangi. Ayaw ko ninyo binuangi (Don't fool me, don't fool me)," Duterte said in a television interview.

Earlier, Duterte ordered village chief Amilbangsa T. Manding of 23-C Mini Forest to eradicate illegal drugs in his area.

Speaking in his regular television program "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" aired last Sunday, the vice mayor gave Manding only 48 hours to do something about the rampant illegal drugs trade in Mini Forest. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)