Duterte tells Malabon mayor: Rid city of illegal drugs or face jail time

President Duterte warned Malabon City Mayor Antolin “Lenlen” Oreta III on Tuesday that he would have him arrested if he fails to rid his city of illegal drugs within one month.

The President issued the warning during the proclamation rally of PDP-Laban in Malabon City Tuesday evening.

Duterte said Oreta, the incumbent city mayor, will face arrest if he fails to address Malabon's drug problem within 30 days.

“Mayor, linisin mo ang Ma

labon mo. Bigyan kita ng isang buwan (Mayor, clean your Malabon up. I will give you a month),” he said.

“‘Pag hindi, sabihin ko kay Ricky, 'sorry na lang ha. Ipahuli ko ‘yung mayor ninyo. Itapon ko ‘yan sa Manila Bay (If not, I'll just tell Ricky... I'm sorry but I will have your mayor arrested and throw him into the Manila Bay)," he added.

Ricky Sandoval is running for congressman of the lone district of Malabon, while his wife Vice Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, is running for city mayor – both under the President's party. The President has endorsed Jeannie Sandoval's candidacy.

Oreta belongs to the opposition Liberal Party, and is seeking re-election for a third and final term in the May, 2019 midterm polls.

According to Duterte, the current situation of Malabon is actually the choice of the mayor, who is also elected by the people.

“Ginusto ninyo ‘yan eh. I mean it’s your choice. Ganito ang Malabon ngayon, it’s your choice. Pinili ninyo eh. Droga, pinili ninyo (This is what you preferred. I mean, it's your choice. This is what Malabon is now, it's your choice, you chose drugs),” he said.

Malabon anti-drug record

Oreta, however, belied the President’s allegation, saying Malabon’s war on drugs record “speaks for itself.”

“We deeply appreciate the President's concern about the drug situation here in Malabon City but our record speaks for itself. Even before the President declared his war against illegal drugs, Malabon City has been conducting its own anti-illegal drug campaign,” Oreta said.

“Katuwang po ako sa hangaring maprotektahan ang bawat buhay at bawat pamilya sa mapanirang epekto ng ilegal na droga (I am a partner in the goal to protect each life and each family from the destructive effects of illegal drugs),” he added.

He said nine out of 21 barangays in Malabon were already declared drugfree during his term. The mayor also claimed that Malabon is the city with the highest number of anti-illegal drug programs in Metro Manila.

Oreta also said that the local government has received awards from agencies such as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of the Interior and Local Government for their anti-illegal drug programs.

Malabon goons

In his speech, the President said Malabon continues to be plagued by two big problems: Corruption and lack

of peace and order. If not addressed, he said the city will never see progress.

The President said he will also order the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to rid Malabon of armed goons.

“I am exalting everybody na huwag kayong magkamali diyan mag-gamit ng mga goons, mga ganun kasi papadalhan ko kayo dito ng isang batalyon na army, totoo lang (to not make the mistake of using goons because I will really send a battalion to deal with them),” he said.

“I will order the Armed Forces to go sa Malabon and hulihin lahat ‘yung mga – na may armas at gawaing… Masarap itong tinapa ninyo, ‘yung bangus ninyo na ano. Iyan ang paborito ko ‘yung pagkain na mga ganon (and arrest all those who have firearms and make them into... your tinapa and bangus are delicious),” he added in a jest.

Duterte reminded the police and the military to stay neutral, adding that he will not allow for them to be used by anyone.

“Ang pulis pati militar (The police and the military) must remain neutral. Magneutral kayo o ipaalis ko kayo dito (Stay neutral or I will remove you from here). You must be in the middle,” he said.

“I will not allow the police or the military to be used by anybody eh kapartido ko man o kalaban sa politika (whether they are my party mates or not), I will never resort to using the military and the police. That is not their job. Their job is to maintain law and order without fear or favor,” he added.