PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, August 17, announced that he will further raise to P5 million the bounty for a dead "ninja cop," the term used for a police officer linked to illegal drugs.
"Kung dalhin mo sa akin iyang patay, P5 million. 'Pag buhay, bigyan kitang P10,000," he said.
(If you bring him to me dead, I'll give you P5 million. If alive, I'll give you P10,000.)
Duterte made the pronouncement in a speech delivered in Davao City, as he vented frustrations over the allegedly continuing abuses committed by some erring policemen despite his strong desire to promote a clean government.
"'Yung pulis, kay rami pang kalokohan. You better shape up because I will rise and fall sa issue ng corruption. Ang pulis, maraming atraso. P***** i** kayo. Sinabi ko na sa inyo, tama na e," the President said.
(The police are involved in so many crimes. You better shape up because I will rise and fall on the issue of corruption. The police have so many offenses. Son of a b****, I told you to stop.)
"But I think, yung nag-kidnap-kidnap dito, it's either the ninja police or eto talagang scalawags. So the good practice, maybe, sa ninja cops, I will now raise the amount [of bounty] to P5 million per ninja cop," he added.
(I think those who are engaged in kidnapping, it's either the ninja police or the scalawags. So the good practice, maybe on ninja cops, I will now raise the amount [of bounty] to P5 million per ninja cop.)
Duterte first increased in the bounty on the head of the so-called ninja cops to P3 million from P2 million to P3 million, in an attempt to put an end to the illicit activities perpetrated by police officers.
Earlier Friday, PNP spokesperson Police Senior Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr. said the Philippine National Police (PNP) would not spare ninja cops from its "relentless and chilling" war on illegal drugs.
Durana said the PNP would be "agressive" in cleansing its ranks of the erring police officers.
"While we can be relentless in our campaign against drug users and drug pushers at the street level, [we] also would want to be relentless and chilling in our desire to rid our ranks of misfits and scalawags, especially those who are involved in illegal drug operation or those who are using illegal drugs," he added.
Duterte urged the police scalawags to turn themselves in to the authorities "within 48 hours," or else, he would raise the bounty by P1 million a month.
"Surrender within 48 hours kasi kapag hindi kayo nag-surrender, dadagdagan ko iyan [bounty], P1 million per month. Totoo. E ganon yung gusto ko e. May pera naman, ade gastusin ko," he said.
(Surrender within 48 hours because if you do not surrender, I will raise [the bounty] by P1 million per month. That's what I want. I have money so I will spend it.) (SunStar Philippines)