President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his warning Thursday for all government officials, including mayors, not to engage in illegal drugs.
He issued the warning during the 31st Annual Convention of the Prosecutors’ League of the Philippines held in Puerto Princesa City.
“I will kill all public officials involved in illegal drugs,” he said.
President Duterte said he gathered all municipal mayors in Malacañang recently and told them face-to-face not to engage in illegal drugs or he will slay them.
“I gathered all the mayors at sinabi ko sa kanila harap-harapan na ‘wag kayong pumasok sa droga [dahil] papatayin ko kayo. Believe me, kung ayaw ninyong maniwala bahala kayo,” he said.
El Nido Mayor Nieves Rosento, who was among those in the new ‘narco- list’ called her inclusion “unfair” and without basis.
Rosento said the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) should present the results of their intelligence investigations.
Duterte said government officials should not commit any illegal activity that is beyond their job description.
“Kung ibang kasalanan okay lang ‘yan. Pero ito ang tandaan ninyo, everybody in government, you just do your duty in accordance with the law. May job description naman di ba? ‘Yon lang ang sundin ninyo,” he added.
In November 2017, Rosento was also among the 20 local executives who were stripped of their authority over their local police by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) over alleged links to illegal drugs.
“Hindi pa rin natin alam ang dahilan, bakit may mga nangyayaring ganito. I’m a simple public servant, I’m not a narco-politician. We will show evidence to support na I am not involved in the illegal drugs trade,” she said.
Duterte said he is not sure if there are other politicians from Palawan included in the supposed second batch aside from Rosento.
“Actually, I do not have the list. Alam mo sa listahan, to tell you the truth there is no biodata [of narco-politicians included in the list]. Hindi ko sila mga kilala,” Duterte said.
