Duterte says despite pandemic, cops working vs drugs after Bulacan haul

June 5, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte has hailed the Philippine National Police, saying that despite the coronavirus disease pandemic the policemen have never stopped in the intensified campaign against illegal drugs following the confiscation of P5.1-billion illegal drugs in Bulacan.

In a televised message in Davao City aired on Friday morning, Duterte said that despite the pandemic, the flow of illegal drugs did not stop.

"We are already a transshipment," he said, adding that the Sinaloa drug syndicate has entered the country.

He said that P5.1 billion worth of suspected shabu was seized in a buy-bust operation on Thursday in Marilao, Bulacan.

"So, despite of the pandemic, police are working...and mindful of the fact that they can get the COVID by their dedication," he said.

"So officially, I would like to congratulate the PNP and (police chief) Archie Gamboa, general. He came from Davao. You have my snappy salute," Duterte said.

Despite the government's efforts against illegal drugs, he lamented again that the human rights groups and his other critics, like former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, want to file charges against him.

"You've (Trillanes) been a senator, you did nothing but to glorify yourself. Now, you are still criticizing this (war) on drugs. It's 5.1 billion (pesos) and you might want to check it out," he said.

He reiterated his warning that he would kill those who would destroy the country through illegal drugs.

"As I said, if you destroy my country distributing 5.1 billion (pesos) of shabu all throughout the country, I will kill you," he said.

A Chinese national and two other suspects were arrested in the Bulacan operation.

"I will kill you and I say that these Chinese (nationals), I'd like the Chinese government to know that there (are) so many ways of fighting corruption. But one of them that really pisses me to no end, these are things that - it destroys my country - the human resource, our children," he added.

Aside from the communist New People's Army, Duterte said the government's problems also include illegal drugs and the terrorists, such as Abu Sayyaf and Maute, in Mindanao. Celerina Monte/DMS