MANILA, Philippines — Days after a former mayor included in the government's list of alleged narco-politicians was killed in a shootout, Malacañang warned those allegedly involved in drugs that they would suffer the same fate if they resist arrest.
According to police reports, former Parang, Maguindanao Mayor Talib Abo Sr. and his brother Disomimba were killed in a gun battle with law enforcers in Cotabato City last Friday.
Superintendent Aldrin Gonzalez, spokesman of the Police Regional Office-12, said the two died from multiple gunshot wounds sustained in a shootout with teams dispatched to search for shabu in their houses.
Gonzalez said the raiding teams were "forced to neutralize" them when they refused to cooperate and pulled out guns, provoking a shootout. Officials said they confiscated shabu and guns after the shootout.
Abo's relatives have asked for a "third party” probe on the bloody raids. They also refuted allegations that he and his brother were into narcotics trafficking.
'Narco list'
Abo was one of the politicians accused by President Rodrigo Duterte of involvement in illegal drugs trafficking in 2016. The former mayor had denied the accusation.
"Regardless of the the social and political status of persons involved and/or engaged in the illegal drug industry, the same fate will necessarily befall them if they resist arrest and shoot it out with the arresting officers," presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
"The law allows lawmen to use mortal violence against those who imperil their lives in the course of a legitimate operation police operation or arrest. The drug menace has struck and destroyed a generation of Filipinos and threatens the next one," he added.
The Revised Philippine National Police Operational Procedures authorizes the use of lethal force "if the offender poses imminent danger of causing death or injury to the police officer or other persons." The same guidelines note that "one who resorts to self-defense must face a real threat on his life, and the peril sought to be avoided must be actual, imminent and real."
The guidelines do not mention "mortal violence" but authorize officers to use "only such necessary and reasonable force should be applied as would be sufficient to overcome the resistance put up by the offender; subdue the clear and imminent danger posed by him; or to justify the force/act under the principles of selfdefense, defense of relative, or defense of stranger."
The Philippine Drug Enforcment Agency said in October 2018 that 4,948 "drug personalities" had been killed in anti-drug operations between July 2016 and September 2018. All of those killed died because they violently resisted arrest, officials say.
Panelo maintained that the state "has not initiated and will never initiated drug-related killings outside the ambit of the law."
"The government will pursue to the ends of the earth those who kill without justifying and exempting circumstances as provided by law until they are put behind bars. There will be no sacred cows in this administration," Panelo said.
"Those who disobey or violate the law will pay the price for their crimes or transgressions. The president will employ any means, unconventional or not but constitutionally allowed, to enforce the law. The president shall fulfill his constitutional mandate until the end of his term," he added.
Despite claims that the anti-drug war has encouraged human rights violations, Panelo said the campaign would continue because it is part of the president's duty to serve and protect the people. He said illegal drugs has caused crimes and has made families of drug addicts dysfunctional.
Other politicians in the "narco list" who have been killed in police operations include former Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa, Datu Saudi, Maguindanao Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom and Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr.