AS PART of his relentless and chilling war on drugs, President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, August 21, warned men in uniform linked to illegal drugs in Cebu, suspected drug personalities in Talisay City, and Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot that he would go after them.
The President, however, did not mention accused drug lord Peter Go Lim, who has a standing warrant of arrest for conspiracy to commit illegal drugs trading.
He mentioned Talisay City, Cebu after he urged members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Visayas Island Cluster to fully enforce the law and raise the bar in governance, especially in the fight against illegal drugs.
"Gaya ng Talisay. P**** i** iyang Talisay na iyan. Mahurot mo diha hinay-hinay. (You in Talisay, you will all fall, gradually)," Duterte said.
Without naming names, the President also slammed the police in Cebu for being "addicts."
"Pulis ninyo diri sa Cebu, puro adik. Halos tanan, hasta inyong mga opisyal, hasta inyong mga PDEA. Imbes magtaas nang rango, p***** i** niya... (Your policemen in Cebu are all addicts, almost everybody, even your officials and your PDEA. To think that you were promoted to a higher rank)," he said. Two Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents in Cebu were shot dead recently.
Duterte did not mention names, but he addressed a certain official: "Mga Cebuano, tignan niyo kung anong nangyari. P***** i**, opisyal ka na. (Cebuanos, look. You are an official already.) That's treason. If you are PDEA, with the military and the police, nandiyan ka (you engage in illegal drugs). That is treason. It's the highest infidelity that you can commit."
"I'm nearing my end. It's only a few years from now. But do not do it during my time. Huwag sa panahon ko. P**** I** ninyo, mamatay talaga. Pulis, general, letse kayo," Duterte said.
"If you use your office as a platform for crime...do not ever think that because you are with PDEA, or the police, or you are a general (that I will not go after you)," he added.
The President also hit Loot, a retired police general who serves as mayor of Daanbantayan town in northern Cebu and is on the drugs watchlist.
"Ikaw, Loot, kasayang ang pagka-PMAer mo. Gastos ng tao tapos, (you) keep on denying. Ilang beses ka na in-ambush? Matatag ka talaga. P*** i** mong Loot ka, huwag mo akong takutin, takutin na military, letse ka," Duterte said.
(Your being a PMA graduate is for naught. Your education was paid for by the people. How many times have you been ambused? You are really indestructible. Do not threaten me, just because you are military.) (MVI and Ruth Abbey Gita / SunStar Philippines)