Duterte vows to protect Filipinos against criminals
CEBU CITY – Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday night his tough stance against criminals was actually a “plea” for them to stop.
“I don’t want to use extraordinary means,” he said, adding a plea to criminals to stop their unlawful activities. “If you do, then we have no problem,” he added.
Duterte was in Cebu Wednesday night to attend two thanksgiving parties organized by his supporters.
Cebu, the top vote rich province with 2,722,288 voters, delivered
1.14 million votes for Duterte in the May 9 polls.
The thanksgiving party organized by the Bisaya Napud Movement at the exclusive Cebu Country Club in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City which was attended by some 300 Duterte supporters was closed to the media but was on live stream on Facebook.
Duterte, who had previously offered 13 million for every drug lord caught dead or alive, raised the reward to 15 million if the offender is caught or killed in Cebu because, he said, he likes Cebu.
He also vowed to be tougher on policemen and other law enforcers, including elected officials who would be found to be in cahoots or protecting drug lords and other crime groups.
Duterte said he is unfazed by criticisms that he was promoting a “culture of death,” saying he would not hesitate to go after criminals who would not change their ways.
“If they could not be talked into changing, let’s kill them then,” he said.
The declaration was met with applause by those in the audience.
Duterte said he protected the two million people of Davao City as their mayor and promised to do the same for the rest of the country.