Duterte lauds bloody Bulacan drug raids

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte praised Wednesday the bloody anti-drug raids in Bulacan province which resulted in the deaths of 32 drug suspects.

At the celebration of 19th founding anniversary of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption held at the Malacanang Palace, Duterte said it was “good” that the drug offenders had been killed in the raid.

The President said he would also welcome the new set of drug personalities who will be killed in the next antidrug operation, in a bid to reduce the number of individuals involved in illicit drugs.

“The number of people killed in a massive [drug] raid[s] in Bulacan rose to 32. That's good. If we kill another 32, maybe we can reduce what's in the country,” he said in a speech he delivered at Palace's Rizal Hall.

Earlier in the day, Bulacan police director Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat said the 66 anti-narcotics operations carried out by police left 32 drug suspects killed and 107 were arrested.

Duterte maintained that his campaign against illegal drugs would be relentless, stressing that narcotics “was eating our country.”

“Drug was eating our country. If you do not do anything drastic, that's the problem,” the Chief Executive said.

“I will really solve the problem. Kill them all... Let's finish it (drug war) for the next generation,” he added.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the police's Internal Affairs Service would investigate the massive operations conducted in Bulacan to determine whether the drug personalities really offered resistance.

“Arresting officers claimed they were met with armed resistance while conducting said enforcement operation,” Abella said.

“PNP spokesperson Dionardo Carlos said that as a matter of procedure, PNP Internal Affairs Service will investigate these simultaneous anti-drug raids,” he added.