Narco groups 'sabotage' drug war to stir anger – Palace

MALACAÑANG said Saturday that narcopoliticians were conniving with drug lords to sabotage the government's war against illegal drugs.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said some "malignant" individuals are stirring up the present administration's brutal war on drugs to spark dissent against the government.

"The President's campaign against illegal drugs has adversely assaulted many, including powerful narco-politicians and these pocketing drug lords who flourished prior to this administration," he said in a statement read over state-run dzRB.

"It should not come as a surprise that these malignant elements would conspire to sabotage the President's campaign to rid the Philippines of illegal drugs and criminality, the centerpiece program of the administration, to succeed; which may include creating scenarios stoking public anger against the government," he added.

Last Friday, President Rodrigo Duterte claimed some groups were out to sabotage the centerpiece program of his government, even as he cleared the police officers of any involvement in the recent spate of killings of teenagers amid the government's bloody drug crackdown.

Duterte cautioned policemen against individuals whose alleged goal is to sabotage their anti-drug operations by savagely slaying minors.

At the 17th founding anniversary of Digos City, the President defended members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), stressing that they were merely performing their duty "within the bounds of the law."

He also mentioned the case of a teenager who was killed while his face was wrapped by a packaging tape, apparently referring to 14year-old Reynaldo de Guzman who was found dead in a creek in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, bearing 30 stab wounds on his body.

"Look at it (brutal killing) because that's a sabotage against you. That’s a deliberate act. [Policemen] will shoot [a criminal] but will not wrap [his face]. It’s not a job of the police. Someone’s trying to sabotage you," Duterte said, tasking PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa to investigate attempts to "discredit" the police force.

"That's not our work. I don’t allow that. Us, we operate within the bounds of the law," he added.

De Guzman's body was discovered after the reported death of his 19year-old companion, Carl Angelo Arnaiz, who was gunned down in a supposed encounter with Caloocan policemen on August 17.

Prior to the killings of De Guzman and Arnaiz, police officers killed 17year-old Kian Loyd Delos Reyes in a drug raid on August 16 in Barangay 160, Caloocan City.

Abella said the recent deaths of minors should be addressed with "suspicion and urgency."

"The recent killings apparently targeting the youth should be viewed with suspicion and urgency," he said.

On Friday, Abella said the deaths of teenagers were a "deep concern," especially amid the government's crackdown on illegal drugs.

He made an assurance that people behind the teens' killings would end up in jail, if results of the investigations will prove the crimes they allegedly perpetrated.

"It's a deep concern. Like we said earlier, any death -- even just one single, violent death -- is a call for concern, especially with the younger ones," Abella said. "Rogue cops, if and when allegations are proven true, have no place in an institution like the Philippine National Police."(SSPhilippines/ Ruth Abbey Gita)