Pres. Duterte praises bloody Bulacan raids
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday praised a series of antidrug operations in Bulacan province that have resulted in the deaths of at least 32 drug suspects.
This, on the same day that his spokesman promised the Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service would look into the raids.
In a rambling speech at the anniversary of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, some of whose members have been promoted to government positions, Duterte said his critics, whom he referred to as simpletons "would grieve again for justice."
He said: "There will be outcry again, yung 32 na napatay kanina in joint operations."
He said that he had ordered police to destroy the drug apparatus and that suspects getting killed are part of that.
The president said, however, that despite the determined drive against illegal drugs, it is not a problem that his administration can solve in a six-year term.
"Ako nga na nag-uutos ng patayan, di ko kaya, kayo pa. Wag na tayo magdrama dito you'll be far worse than what we have now."
Duterte has, in the past, made statements that his spokespersons and subordinates have had to walk back or "clarify" as jokes, hyperbole or expressions of frustration.
BULACAN OPERATIONS
Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police Director, said they conducted a total of 66 province-wide operations between 12 midnight of August 15 and 12 midnight of August 16.
Caramat said they had 20 armed encounters that resulted in the deaths and arrests of 107 drug suspects in their “one-time, big-time operation.”
The operation also yielded illegal drugs – methamphetamine and marijuana – firearms, grenades and ammunition.
Despite the record number of deaths in just a day, Caramat asserted that police were left with no choice but to use force as many of the suspects resisted arrest.
“Kinukwestyon nila kung bakit ganun karami (number of deaths), all I can say is we don’t have the control of the situation,” the Bulacan police chief said in a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City. —