Duterte warns of 'radical change' coming
MANILA, Philippines — “I will make radical change in the days to come.”
President Rodrigo Duterte, upon arrival from a three-day official visit to South Korea, warned of significant changes in the days ahead.
“There will be changes in the coming days including public order and security. There are simply too many crimes and too many—claiming to be this and that,” Duterte said.
The president noted that there are “complaints” of people apprehensive of visiting the country due to fear of being kidnapped or killed. “Well, somehow, even with this meager emergency power, I will use it to the hilt and put things in order,” he added.
It remains unclear what powers Duterte is referring to, but he added: “For those offices that are beyond control, I will place you under the Office of the President. I will be in front of you every day.”
On Tuesday, Duterte assured the Korean community of their safety should they want to visit the Philippines. He said: “I know there are lot of misgivings about the law and order in the Philippines and I must admit there were some incidents in the past that did not augur well for people to even consider the Philippines as an investment area.”
READ: Duterte tells South Korean businessmen: You’ll be safe in the Philippines
The president did not mention the case of Jee Ick Joo but he acknowledged in his speech that the county is beset with law and order problems. He asked to be given until the end of 2018 to reorganize the Philippine National Police.
Jee was a Korean businessman who was kidnapped under the guise of an anti-drug operation and killed inside the police headquarters in Quezon City.
Members of the police force are currently undergoing trial at the Pampanga trial court for charges of kidnapping for ransom with homicide.
South Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man also appealed to the PNP to look into the killings of businessman Shang Ho-Lee who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Mandaue, and Kim Woon-oh, who was found with a gunshot wound on his back in Caloocan. Kim later died in the hospital.
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