NARCOS SABOTAGE WAR VS. ILLEGAL DRUGS: PALACE
Malacañang spokesperson Abella says enemies trying to stoke public anger
Malacañang said Saturday that narco-politicians 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 of- ficers 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 14-year-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. /