PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, November 28, threatened to "finish off" the Parojinogs, a political clan in Ozamiz City accused of being involved in illegal drug trade.
During the groundbreaking of an airport modernization project in Ozamiz City, Duterte told "evil" mayors that he can match them "50 times that [they] can."
The President then mentioned the Parojinog family, warning them that he would wipe them out "from the face of the earth."
"Kanang pamilyaha na Parojinog, undang na mo'g panghadlok. I will wipe you from the face of the earth. Ingnan ta mo. Tilukon ta gyud mo diri (The Parojinog family, stop threatening people. I will wipe you from the face of the earth. I'm telling you. I will really finish all of you off)," he said.
Duterte made the warning after getting information from Misamis Occidental Second District Representative Henry Oaminal that witnesses against the Parojinog clan were allegedly receiving threats.
Oaminal, in a speech delivered at the same event, said the Parojinog family does not stop from threatening witnesses.
The lawmaker noted: "The war on drugs in our place is not yet over. There are still remnants in the drug organization who are still at large. Even those in jail remain dangerous as they can still afford to put up prices on the heads of those who put with you. They remain arrogant and confident to threaten witnesses."
The Parojinog clan was previously tagged by Duterte as among individuals who are included in his government's anti-drug watch list.
In July 2017, the Philippine National Police conducted simultaneous anti-drug operations against Parojinogs, resulting in the death of Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., his wife, and 14 others.
The late Ozamiz mayor's children, Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog and Reynaldo Parojinog Jr., are currently facing criminal
charges for illegal possession of firearms and illegal drugs before the Ozamiz Regional Trial Court.
On the other hand, Ozamiz City Councilor Ricardo Parojinog, brother of the slain Ozamiz mayor, was arrested in Taiwan in May 2018 after 10 months of hiding.
On October 8, Edmundo Pintac, the judge handling cases against the Ozamiz mayor's children, were shot dead by motorcycle-riding suspects, but the Parojinog siblings denied hand in the killing.
Duterte, in his latest speech, also warned police officers who are conniving with the Parojinog clan.
"Hasta nang mga pulis. P***** i**, bantay mo. Ipatawag ta lang mo sa Manila. Pag-abot sa airport, diha pa sa airport, ipa-ihaw ta na ka (Also the police. Son of a b****, you better watch out. I'll have you called in Manila. When you arrive at the airport, I'll have you killed)," he said.
"Ayaw ko'g hadloka diha foolish -- foolishness. Huwag mo akong takutin ng... Ako inyong hadlukon? Ay b**** siyang ina. Maayo man ko'g Duterte (Don't try to scare me with that foolishness. Do not scare me with... You're going to scare me? Oh, m***** f*****. It's a good thing I'm not the foolish Duterte)," the President added.
Duterte's pronouncement came as he also ordered the return of controversial Police Superintendent Jovie Espenido, who plotted the anti-drug operations against the Parojinog family.
The Commander-in-Chief also cautioned that he had a "plenty of Espenidos" in the army and the police who can go after drug personalities.
In a press conference on Thursday, November 29, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo clarified that Duterte was not ordering the killings of the Parojinog family.
Panelo said the President merely wanted the Parojinogs to be held accountable for their involvement in illegal drugs.
"No. Killing will only come if they resist arrest, if they do violence to those who are enforcing the law. This is very clear, every time the President says that," he said, when asked if Duterte wants the Parojinog clan dead.
"It means he will pursue to the ends of the earth these criminals until they (Parojinog family) are behind bars. Not necessarily [to kill them]," the Palace official added.
Panelo also made clear that Duterte's order to Espenido, who is set to return to Ozamiz City, was just to make sure that the place was drug-free.
He said the President is expecting that Espenido will "do the work" to ensure that drug personalities will not thrive in Ozamiz City.
"Again, I will repeat what I said, all actions of the President are based on a constitutional command, that is to serve and protect the people," he said.
"If you recall, Espenido was successful in ridding that place of drug lords, those who push drugs. And apparently, since his departure, the drug incidence there increased by leaps and bounds so the President needs man like Espenido to do the work," Panelo added. (SunStar Philippines)