Rody inspired by Hollywood movies in drug war

MANILA, Philippines - Just like in the movies, but this is real life.

President Duterte admitted he takes inspiration from Western action movies like “Dirty Harry” in waging his bloody war on drugs that has raised concern among the United Nations, the United States and human rights advocates.

Duterte’s revelation came just hours before a blast ripped the Roxas night market in his hometown Davao City that killed 14 and injured more than 60 people.

Answering queries from Michael Sullivan of the National Public Radio Washington, Duterte related the movie “Dirty Harry” with the killings of suspected drug pushers, particularly those killed by vigilante groups.

“I am sure you know Dirty Harry and Dirty Harry felt something for the community,” Duterte said during a press conference at the sidelines of the inauguration of Davao International Container Port.

The President has maintained that policemen are not behind the killings as he revealed that members of drug syndicates have fallen for law enforcers’ tactic of sowing intrigues among warring groups.

To drive home his point on the evils of the drug trade, Duterte cited the case of a policeman assigned in Mindanao, whose first grader daughter was raped and killed by suspected drug users.

“I tell you frankly now, and you can repeat it, that if I were the father and I took care of this child, a girl, and then suddenly she’s found dead raped, would you think that I would be contented just killing one, two, three?” he said.

“No, it’s always an eye for an eye at the end of the day. Who taught us? The movie of Clint Eastwood personified it that way,” he added.

“Dirty Harry” is a 1971 American action film where Eastwood played the title role as Inspector Harry Callahan of the San Francisco Police Department. Described as “culturally, historically and aesthetically significant” by the National Film Registry in 2012, “Dirty Harry” was a critical and commercial success that set the style for a whole genre of police films.

Duterte also cited the film “Taken” where Liam Neeson’s character is an agent of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) who goes after a human trafficking syndicate for abducting his teenage daughter.

“What’s the difference between Liam Neeson killing a lot of Europeans there and Americans because of what happened to his daughter? That’s why the scriptwriter knows what’s in the mind of the human being,” Duterte said.

“Everything is shaped by the culture of the world now...So what goes on in the minds of the Americans? And we think that the movie is good and we should follow it. I mean to the average family man. Now how about the so many Clint Eastwoods in the police department?” he added.

Duterte also argued that the movie should not have been shown if it set a bad example.

“If it is bad, then it should have been not shown at all because it will poison the mind of everybody in the world. But it was good and it was Rated R, only for adults. Everything is shaped by the culture of the world now. It’s a sinking world,” he added.

Duterte reiterated that he has no regrets in launching the war against drugs as he is mandated to protect the country and the next generation. 

“I stake my life, my honor and the presidency itself. I don’t really need it that badly. Just don’t f**k with the next Filipinos because there will be a portion of that next generation that is or will be fractured,” he said.