Duterte says he disposed of drug lords in Manila Bay
Unapologetic for his controversial war on drugs, President Duterte recently bared that he has thrown drug lords in Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay, as well as down a steep ravine in Mountain Province.
At the awarding ceremony of childfriendly places in Malacañang Thursday, the President explained that he previously did not “advertise” the dumping of drug offenders in these places as he deplored those who destroy the nation.
Duterte made the admission to fend off criticisms that no big fishes were caught in his bloody anti-drug campaign.
"Sabi nila o, itong mga idiotong mga kolumnista, wala daw nakuha na… Hindi lang ninyo alam. Baka hindi niyo alam ilan tinapon ko diyan sa Manila Bay. Mga y*** kayo. Baka gusto ninyo pati kayo [These idiot columnists say there were none. You just don't know. You don't know how many I've dumped in Manila Bay. You fools. Maybe you want me to throw you too]," he said in his remarks.
"Naga-announce ba kami na ‘yang drug lord si ano tinapon ko sa ano... Laguna de Bay? ‘Yung isa hinulog ko doon sa Mountain Province doon sa ravine? Do I have to advertise that? Ulol pala kayo eh [Did we announce that I've thrown drug lords in Laguna de Bay? The one I dumped down a ravine in Mountain Province? Do I have to advertise that? You fools]," he added.
Duterte, however, denied that the authorities were behind the "wholesale" killing of drug offenders. He said a daily report on the anti-drug campaign showed that suspects were either arrested or neutralized.
"May nakita ba kayo na wholesale pinatay lima, anim? [Have you seen the wholesale killing of five or six people?] It’s one or two if they decide to fight it out with the law enforcement," he said.
The President insisted that he would not apologize for his drug war despite human rights concerns from some groups. Instead Duterte renewed his vow to kill those who will destroy the country with the illegal drugs.
"I am not apologizing for anything," he said.
"I’ve been very emphatic. You destroy my country, I will kill you. You destroy my city, I will kill you. What does that mean? How do you destroy a city? You destroy people," he said.
Duterte admitted that he was "extra cruel" in dealing with drug offenders because he does not want the country to become a nation of addicts or "zombies" waiting to get their next fix. "I never made any pretensions. I never made any lies," he said.
Duterte said he would take full responsibility for the drug war, adding that he was ready to face death.
"Sino bang gustong pumatay? Pero hindi ko matanggap ‘yan. And if I... and even if I get hanged or face a musketry, okay lang sa akin. Tapos na ako sa mundo [Who wants to kill? But I cannot accept that. Even if I get hanged or face a musketry, that's okay with me. I’m finished with this world]," he said.
Meanwhile, Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, PNP spokesman, said the statement of the President only emphasized how serious the national government is in its campaign against illegal drugs.
“The public should not be worried. The statement of the President is just an emphasis on how serious [the government is] in the campaign against illegal drugs)," Banac said in Filipino.
The police official said that he had no knowledge if what the President said was indeed true.
"Wala naman tayong ulat na may ganoong pangyayari na pinatungkulan ang Pangulo (We have not received a report about that incident involving the President)," Banac said. (With a report from Martin A. Sadongdong)