During the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) 19th founding anniversary on August 16, the President warned mayors to solve drug trades in their respective cities or just ‘take a vacation.’
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte reiterated that as persons of power, with authority over the police, the mayors should be able to control the drugs in their cities.
On July 4, weeks after the President’s declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao, the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) stripped the police powers of seven governors and 132 mayors in Mindanao who allegedly involved themselves in acts against the government’s peace and order campaign, abused their position, conspired with criminals, or had frequent unauthorized absences.
“Sabi ko sa mga mayors, wala na silang police power ngayon, isauli ko lang ‘yan kung matapos na ang giyera, at sabihin ng pulis pati military, ‘Mayor, okay na’ (I told the mayors that I will only return their police powers if the war is over and if the police and military say that everything is okay),” Duterte narrated.
However, in the event that he returns their police powers and nothing changed, the President had something else to say. “If you cannot control drugs in your city, tanggalin kita (I will eliminate you). I might just outright suspend you. That’s my next move,” he said
He added that failing to deal with the drug trade would signify that they are ‘worthless.’ “I will not return the police power to you. Wala akong pakialam sa inyo (I do not care about you).”
Firm and not troubled, he told the local leaders to try and stop him even by asking the judges of the courts.
“So marami na namang korte, away ‘yan. I-TRO (Temporary Restraining Order) na naman ako ng mga huwes. Sabihin ko sa huwes, ‘Kaya mo? Kasi kung kaya mo, sige (There will be a lot of court battles, judges will issue another TRO against me. I will tell them, ‘Can you? Because if you can, go ahead,’” he dared.
In the same speech, Duterte said that his ‘narco-list’ was updated as of August 8. Though he did not mention any person in the said list like before, he said that it has names of judges.
“If this is a bible, I will make a solemn oath na trabaho ito ng pulis, na walang ano dito, kalokohan (that this is the job of the police and that there is no foolishness here), the President said.
“With God’s help, death certificate na ‘yan balang araw (these will be death certificates in the future)” he added.