Duterte declares: “Can’t forgive” those in illegal drugs

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Illegal drugs is a serious national problem, according to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who told Boholanos yesterday that he could never forgive those who are engaged in this illegal trade and abuse.

Duterte, who arrived in this city and rushed to a resort for a slated press conference, told reporters that a lot of people hooked to illegal drugs have gone crazy because these shrunk their brain. “And if the children are into it, parents would lose them forever,” he said.

Commission of crimes is the result of the illegal drugs use, Duterte said in the press-con, dubbed “Meet the Press,” sponsored by the Bohol Tri-Media Association, headed by Peter Dejaresco.

After meeting the journalists, Duterte proceeded to the Bohol Institute of Technology-International College where he was the commencement speaker in the evening.

“I don’t negotiate with criminals, except for revolutionaries,” he said, citing an incident in his city where he even ordered the shooting of the criminal.

Duterte said firmly believed that people needed change and they have been asking for “institutional change.” Some businessmen “resist in paying taxes,” because the money would still go to the pockets of the corrupt officials.

“This has been the reason why I kept going to places — to promote federalism,” which he insisted would be the key solution to defective governance.

Duterte declared he was not promoting for his candidacy for president, saying he was not interested of it, as it did not appeal to him.

The fiesty mayor of Davao City admitted he has relatives in Bohol because his grandmother was a Boholana. He recalled that, when he was about four years old, he was able to stay somewhere in Tagbilaran when his family was on its way to Davao from Danao City in Cebu province. He also confirmed that he was born in Maasin City of Southern Leyte, where he has some relatives there.

Without trying to publicize the assistance he and his administration extended to disaster-struck places, Duterte was forced to reveal to the local media that he gave relief aid to some towns in Bohol after the October 15, 2013 earthquake.

The beneficiary-towns in Bohol received P500,000 each, except, “of course for Maribojoc town” because of what he said was his trusted “lieutenant”, now Mayor Leoncio Evasco. Duterted further bared that he pitched help to local government units in Leyte that were devastated by typhoon Yolanda on November 8, 2013.

Duterte was welcomed by Evasco and supporters of the Duterte for President movement in Bohol, led by former Panglao town Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan. During the press-con, he was seated alongside with Dejaresco and Evasco and resort manager Rommel Gonzales. Some supporters wore red T-shirts printed at the back with big bold “DDS,” which stood for “Duterte Dapat ang Solusyon.”

Meanwhile, illegal drugs trade appeared lucrative these past months. Police in Bohol said a total of more than 1,640 grams of shabu, worth about P19,358,103, were seized in 342 operations last year. There were 389 people arrested and 622 cases were filed in court, according to the Provincial Peace and Order Council. (FREEMAN)