Rody on b’gay polls: Electing narco bets means more deaths
There would be more deaths if people with ties to illegal drug rings win in the upcoming barangay elections, President Duterte has warned.
While acknowledging that Congress has the final say on whether the barangay polls would push through, Duterte reminded lawmakers that the drug problem in the country remains very much alive.
At the National Special Weapons and Tactics Challenge in Davao City last Thursday, Duterte said he told his special assistant, Christopher Go,
to remind Congress that while it’s their prerogative to enact a law for the polls, they should remember “that the drug situation is still very, very alive and vicious.”
Duterte said people connected to the illegal drugs trade may join the barangay elections to be held in May.
“So kung manalo ‘yang mga barangay captains, na-back up ng drug money, eh panibagong away yan. Panibagong patayan na naman ‘yan (If the barangay captains backed by drug money win, it would lead to conflict. It would result in more deaths),” the President said.
Security officials have claimed that members of drug syndicates are killing their comrades, whom they suspect of being police assets.
Duterte stressed that he would not allow officials to use their power to commit crimes.
“I’m not saying there would be no election or there would be an election. But I will never, never until the end of my term, to the last day, allow a government official to use his power or position as a platform to engage in criminality, especially drugs,” the President said.
“I won’t accept that. Let us be sure on that. Now if we work, let’s help each other. Well, at the end of the day, just like now, when all questions have been asked, then I would say: ‘I take full responsibility,’” he added.
Earlier, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Duterte’s allies in Congress are planning to railroad Char- ter change discussions to prolong their terms. He said the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections would be moved to October to give them time to rush the proposed changes and pass a provision extending their terms.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III has said that bills seeking to postpone the barangay polls are not likely to gain support in the chamber.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. has denied that Malacañang is behind an effort to rush Charter change and assured the public that there would be enough time to tackle all proposals.
Duterte has been advocating for a shift to a federal system of government, saying it would spur development in far-flung areas and put an end to the decades-old conflict in Mindanao.