THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday, November 29, belied the claim of President Rodrigo Duterte that bodies of big-time drug lords were dumped in Manila Bay, Laguna de Bay and a ravine in the Mountain Province.
"Wala naman. Itong mga ganitong pahayag ng Pangulo ay pagbibigay-diin niya sa pagiging seryoso ng pinaigting na kampanya laban sa iligal na droga, particularly sa mga high-value targets," PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said.
(Statements by the President like this merely stresses that the government is serious in carrying out an intensified campaign against illegal drugs, particularly against high-value targets.)
"Tayo ay nagsasagawa ng ating operations with transparency at kita naman natin kung gaano naging professional ang ating mga operatiba sa pagsunod ng ating mga procedure at paggalang ng karapatang pantao," he added.
(We conduct our operations with transparency. You can see that our operatives are professional. They follow standard operating procedures and respect human rights.)
Duterte on Thursday evening, November 28, said some big-time drug lords were executed and their bodies were dumped in the Manila Bay, Laguna de Bay and down a ravine in the Mountain Province.
"Itong mga idiotong mga kolumnista, wala daw nakuha na (drug lord). Hindi lang ninyo alam. Baka hindi niyo alam ilan tinapon ko diyan sa Manila Bay. Mga yawa kayo. Baka gusto ninyo pati kayo," the President said.
(These columnists allege that we failed to arrest a drug lord. You just don't know that I dumped the body in the Manila Bay. You devils? Would you want to have the same fate?)
"Bakit? Nag-a-announce ba kami na ‘yang drug lord si ano tinapon ko sa, ano, Laguna de Bay? ‘Yung isa hinulog ko doon sa Mountain Province doon sa ravine? Do I have to advertise that? Ulol pala kayo eh," he added.
(Why? Do we announce that I dumped the body of this drug lord in the Laguna de Bay? Another was thrown down a ravine in the Mountain Province. Do I have to advertise that? You are idiots.)
Banac said the PNP is strengthening its capability to arrest high-value targets of the drug war.
According to PNP officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Archie Gamboa, proof that the PNP is focused on putting "big fishes" behind bars was the arrest of a Chinese national and his two alleged drug couriers.
Confiscated from them were a total of 388 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) worth P2.6 billion, considered the biggest haul in 2019. Follow-up operations are ongoing, Gamboa said. (SunStar Philippines)