Errant cops herded to Malacañang for presidential tongue-lashing

DEPARTING from his previous high regard of the police force initially tasked to carry out his bloody drug war, President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday gave around 200 cops from Metro Manila a tongue- lashing as part of a shame campaign against “scalawag” policemen.

In his remarks, Mr. Duterte ordered the cops who were assembled in Malacañang to known conflict areas in Mindanao where he said they will stay there for two years.

“Prepare to move out. I’ll give you two weeks from now, 15 days… Start to move out. If you do not want to go there, go to your superior officer and tell them that you’re going to resign,” he said.

The President then accused the cops lined up in front of him of committing extrajudicial killings under the government’s brutal narcotics war as he enumerated their illicit activities, including extortion and drugtrafficking.

“Ewan ko ilang tao na ang pinatay ninyo na ano inosente na walang kamuwang-muwang. Pero ako, hindi ko kayo palusutin, sa totoo lang. Wag ninyo akong hamunin ng barilan, talagang papatulan ko kayo, mga p***** ina ninyo (I don’t know how many innocents you’ve killed. But I won’t let this pass. Don’t challenge me to a duel, I’ll take that challenge, you sons of bitches),” Mr. Duterte said.

In an interview on Monday, Philippine National Police (PNP) Director-General Ronald M. dela Rosa said the “bulk” of dishonest cops to be brought to the Palace have cases dating back to 2014.

The assembled policemen, from Police Officers 1 (PO1) to Chief Inspectors, are accused of varied criminal and minor offenses, Mr. Dela Rosa said.

“As I have said, kahit ano gagawin ko para lang malinis itong PNP, gagawin ko. Bahala na kung mapahiya sila. Kung napapahiya sila mas the more na napapahiya ako dahil I am their chief (As I have said, I’ll do anything to clean up this PNP. If they’re embarrassed, so be it. I’m the one more embarrassed because I am their chief ),” Mr. Dela Rosa told Palace reporters that Tuesday.

Mr. Duterte’s comments came following a report by Amnesty International that the killings in the drug war, in which more than 6,500 people have died in seven months, may amount to crimes against humanity.

They were also the clearest signal of Mr. Duterte’s plans for the drug war, after he admitted this week the police force that had taken the leading role was “corrupt to the core” and said they would no longer be allowed to take part. —