PH seeks US help vs drugs
China unaware of Chinese drug syndicates operating in Manila
President Duterte has urged the United States to help control drugs smuggling, blaming Taiwan and Hong Kong-based criminal gangs for using the Philippines as a transshipment point.
The President, in a speech at the anniversary rites of the Department of Justice last Tuesday, claimed that the Taiwan-based Bamboo Triad and the Hong Kong-based 14K Triad were running the drug trade in Southeast Asia.
Faced with this threat, Duterte pushed for closer cooperation between the Philippines and the United States to combat the organized crime syndicates behind drug trafficking.
Washington has said it supports the Philippines’ anti-drug efforts but has also urged Manila to respect human rights and the rule of law in its operations.
“We are in trouble and this is the first time that I would reveal it because we’re talking about the Constitution and the interest of the country and, of course, the Bill of Rights and due process,” the President said during the 56th anniversary of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) at the Manila Hotel.
“The Philippines today is a client state of the Bamboo Triad. They have taken over the operations, sad to say, Chinese but I do not mean the country and the people. (In a) sense that they are, most of them are really into this kind of business,” he said.
“Itong drugs ngayon, it’s been operated by the 14K, Bamboo Triad. They have taken over. They are cooking the shabu on the high seas. Tapos itatapon. Nakita mo sa Region 1, mga bins na empty na may Chinese character. It's actually from Taiwan at lahat na,” Duterte said.
He claimed those cooking illegal drugs were given a “franchise in distribution.”
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson, citing the report of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), revealed that the illegal drug problem in the country is reaching alarming proportions with an estimated R144-billion annual drug trade. China backs PH drug war The Chinese government said it is unaware of any Chinese drug rings such as the Bamboo Triad currently operating in the Philippines.
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua stressed this Tuesday night after President Duterte bared that the “Bamboo” and the “14K” triads have taken over local drug operations, turning the Philippines as a transshipment point of the illegal substance to the United States.
Still, Ambassador Zhao gave his assurance that China will not protect their nationals who will be caught committing crimes in the Philippines.
“We do not know much (about) the syndicates or the drug rings that are operating in the Philippines,” Zhao told reporters in an interview at the sidelines of the reception celebrating the 68th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China (PROC) held in Makati City. “China will not protect its nationals who have committed crimes in the Philippines. They need to be punished in accordance with the Filipino law.”
Zhao said that while China is not aware of any Chinese drug rings operating in the country, Beijing fully supports Duterte's earlier remarks that “there are really some bad Chinese who are doing illegal drugs.”
He assured the Philippines that China will continue to support its campaign against illegal drugs.
“Both China and the Philippines and the international community are faced with this drug problem. Illicit drugs and drug-related criminal acts are our common enemies. We need to work together to fight against it,” the Chinese envoy said.
‘Not from Taiwan’ The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines, meanwhile, said Taiwan has never been the source of illegal drugs entering the Philippines.
Dr. Gary Song-Huann Lin, Taiwan's representative to the Philippines, said Taiwan fully supports the Philippines government’s combat against transnational drug syndicates.
Dr. Lin stressed that both countries have been working together for years to fight illegal drugs and Taiwan will continue to join hands with the relevant Philippine authorities to enhance cooperation in order to eliminate transnational drug trafficking.
He noted that Taiwan and the Philippines have established cooperation mechanisms and systems for the two countries to fight drug trafficking.
No need for martial law As this developed, President Duterte said that there is no need for him to declare martial law to advance his all-out war against illegal drugs.
Duterte gave this assurance as he reiterated his vow to solve the country's illegal drug problem within his six-year term even if it means putting his life at stake.
Duterte, in his speech at the Philconsa anniversary celebration, said all he has to do is enforce the law.
“No need for a martial law in this game of drugs. Pero basta kapag nahuli kita isang tonelada [ng droga], ah p ***** i** ‘wag mo akong [subukan] (But if I catch you with a ton of illegal drugs – don't even try me),” Duterte said Tuesday night.
“All I [will] do is that I will enforce the law. If I have enemies numbering 1,000, then I will prepare my police and army for 1,000,” he added.
“I’ve told you before in my presidency, I’m staking my honor, my life and the Presidency itself, period. Wala nang istorya tayo diyan (There's nothing else more to that, anymore)," he continued.
The President also reiterated that drug personalities should not even attempt to destroy the country and its youth or face the consequences.
“Either we follow the civilized way or we follow the brutalized methods of – just do not destroy my country. Do not destroy our young people because they are our valued assets,” Duterte said.
No data fabrication
Meanwhile, Duterte said that the government is not inventing the number of casualties in the administration's drug war to deceive the public.
The President said this to address his local and international critics' claims that he has been ordering the authorities to kill criminals.
“Now, there are some countries which are insulting us to open our records to them, everything. Who are you to do that to my country?” Duterte said.
“If you don’t believe our records, then go out and find something else to do. We do not fabricate,” he added.
Duterte challenged his critics to prove their claims as he cited data that more than 200 police and soldiers were killed in action during the over 70,000 anti-illegal drugs operations nationwide.
“And you say that we are killing our own countrymen? For what reason? You enjoy slaughtering your own countrymen?” Duterte said.
“Find me one, even one officer or a patrolman, find me one that would say that I ordered them to execute criminals and you will have my resignation tomorrow. I’m only asking for one – patrolman or a police officer,” he added.
Gov’t not remiss
Malacañang insisted that the government has not been remiss in investigating killings associated with the war on illegal drugs.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are prepared to respond to a petition filed before the Supreme Court seeking to resolve the drugrelated deaths.
He said authorities follow “protocols and procedures” during police operations and conduct investigations in the event of drug-related killings.
“Drug-related killings form part of cases under investigation by the police, alongside murder and homicide cases,” he said.
A group of lawyers recently called on the Supreme Court to direct the PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, and Commission on Human Rights Chairman Chito Gascon to investigate the cases of alleged summary killings associated with the President’s anti-drug campaign. (With reports from Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos and Mario B. Casayuran)