Duterte threatens to ‘kill’ cops under investigation

International Desk: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to kill dozens of Philippines National Police (PNP) officers who are under investigation for crimes in an expletive-laden rant targeting criminality in the force.

After hauling 102 officers to the Malacañang -- the Philippines Presidential Palace -- Tuesday, the firebrand leader unloaded on them, calling them "useless... (and) a menace to society," CNN affiliate CNN Philippines reported.

Many of the officers presented to Duterte are under investigation for serious crimes including rape, kidnapping, extortion and involvement in the drug trade. Others are accused of administrative lapses, like being absent without leave and failing to appear for court duties.

Duterte warned the officers that if they continued their criminal acts, he'd have them killed.
"Like what you do, it's easy to kill a person. Just follow him, fire at his back, then walk away calmly," he said, according to CNN Philippines' translation.

The over-the-top threats are in keeping with the president's hyperbolic style.

Over a year ago Duterte called for a total overhaul of the force in the wake of the alleged brutal killing of a South Korean businessman by corrupt police officials.

"Cleanse your ranks. Review their cases. Give me a list of who the scalawags are," Duterte said.

He extended the purge at the beginning of 2018, according to CNN Philippines, ordering the ranks be cleared of "graft and corruption."

Duterte came to power in June 2016 after a resounding election victory based on a promise to rid the government of corruption and the country of drugs.

He wasted no time in issuing orders to police officers to round up suspected drug dealers. Thousands of alleged offenders were subsequently killed by cops and vigilantes in a purge that drew international condemnation.

Soon after launching the operation, Duterte said,"If we can only kill 32 every day, maybe we can fix what ails this country," according to a translation by CNN affiliate CNN Philippines.

In March, the president ordered his police officers not to cooperate with United Nations human rights investigators and offered a crass warning to those conducting the probe.

Source: Agencies


risingbd/Aug 8, 2018/Mukul