CLARK FREEPORT -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday evening, April 5, reminded the fiscals and prosecutors to always consider malice and negligence in weighing things as part of fulfilling their sworn responsibilities to the Filipino people.
In his message during the 29th Annual National Convention of the Prosecutors’ League of the Philippines (PLP) Wednesday evening, the president also emphasized the two principles as important ingredients in the criminality in the country, particularly those relating to drugs and corruption.
“I was mayor for the last 23 years of Davao City. I was also a prosecutor and was also appointed special prosecutor for the tanodbayan during the time when the Ombudsman was not yet created. During that time, I admit that I also have many faults. But when it comes to drugs and corruption, I will be a bit harsh and I will never compromise my stand against it,” Duterte said.
Stressing his war against illegal drugs, the President said it is also one of the challenges faced by the prosecutors as this gives birth to the most heinous crimes committed nowadays.
“When someone commits a crime under the influence of drugs, he kills, he rapes, robbery with homicide, robbery with rape, and when the psychiatrist examines the idiot, he would come to the conclusion that he is not in his complete faculties,” he shared.
Duterte saidt hese kinds of scenario are what the prosecutors must settle in order for the perpetrators to be held accountable for their actions.
“Somehow, drugs have changed even the most values of the Filipino. In fact, most crimes are committed against minors, innocent people and family of the perpetrators,” he added.
What is even more saddening, Duterte said, is that based on statistics, 77,000 deaths are drug-related, with 4 million drug users and 40 percent of all barangay chiefs nationwide involved in the illegal trade.
“I have to destroy an apparatus. I am the President at this time and I get to solve the problems that were known only by now. The beginning and end of my presidency is to preserve the Filipino nation and our children,” he reiterated.
In the issue of corruption, he urged the prosecutors to work with the administration as he emphasized that promotions will be through a merit system.
“I will not allow politics to set in. Whether you are an appointee, stand on your merit because it will always be based on you performance, on what is right and legal,” he pointed out.
The PLP is a non-stock, non-sectarian and non-political association of active and former public prosecutors and prosecuting attorneys in the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice.
This year’s convention carries the theme “Taga-usig Kabalikat ng Pangulo Laban sa Droga at Katiwalian.” (PR)