DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said the five police officers he labeled as drug protectors will undergo due process.
“I am not condemning them, they deserve an investigation,” Duterte said in a speech at the Hariraya Eid’l Fitr event on Friday evening at the SMX Convention Center in Davao.
Earlier this week, Duterte relieved from their posts police officers Chief Superintendent Bernardo Diaz, Director Joel Pagdilao and Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio for their alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
He also named two retired police officers, Deputy Director-General Marcelo Garbo Jr. and Chief Superintendent Vicente Loot (now municipal mayor of Daanbantayan, Cebu), as protectors of drug lords.
The 71-year-old president said it was his duty to inform the people about the rogue cops and relieve them from their posts even before the official probe had started.
“I have a sworn duty to let you know kung ano ang nangyayari sa ating bayan. These are the things I have to do because I’m the president,” Duterte said.
The former Davao City mayor also dismissed allegations that his move was politically motivated.
“Wala naman pinatawad dito. Waray, Maranaw, Ilonggo, lahat dito pantay-pantay. Everybody must answer to the law,” Duterte said.
The president insisted he is merely cleaning the ranks of the Philippine National Police before implementing the “many plans” and reforms he promised when he was still vying for the presidency.
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