THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA
www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 7 Number 1 | OCTOBER 2016
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President Rodrigo Duterte:
‘I will kill all the drug lords’
Bloody takeoff into the first 100 days
Judging from the past
months and going into
his first 100 days this
month, President Rodrigo
Duterte has made it clear
that the war on drugs
and criminality remain a
centerpiece agenda of his
administration.
And with that it means everybody will have to be involved in
the fight against drugs. It’s no longer just a cops’ battle.
Only recently, President Duterte has urged the Philippine
Marines to stay loyal to the Republic and help to fight the
country’s drug problem.
In his remarks before the elite troops on September 27,
Duterte said: “I am now calling you… to also fight drugs.”
He stressed, however, that he is not encouraging them to take
the law into their own hands.
Duterte promised to give the soldiers anything they want and
need “to win a fight, to win a war, to win a battle, ibibigay ko sa
inyo, walang problema.”
President Duterte also assured the troops that economic
benefits “will come if there is a peaceful Philippines.”
On another day in Mindanao last month, President Rodrigo
Duterte commended the men and women of the Police Regional
Office in General Santos City for a job well done under the
“Project Double Barrel” anti-illegal drugs operations conducted
in the region.
The President personally commended the team leaders of task
forces that apprehended drug syndicate members with their highpowered firearms, drug paraphernalia, and even bomb-making
components.
On top of the medals, each awardee also received P200,000
cash for their exemplary performance in the fight against illegal
drugs.
In his speech, President Duterte defended the Philippine
National Police (PNP) against criticisms of alleged extrajudicial
killings.
He reminded the policemen of their mandate to go after
Photo credit: The Atlantic
lawless elements and defend themselves in life-threatening
situation.
The President likewise assured them that he is standing by
them for as long as they are doing their job, especially in the
administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.
“Pag sinunod ninyo ako, wala kayong problema, ako
ang bahala sa inyo. Hindi ako papayag na may militar o pulis
makulong dahil sa utos ko kasi ang bayan natin hirap. Hirap na
hirap ang bayan natin sa droga,” Duterte said.
Despite calls from international human rights groups and
agencies like the UN, Duterte said his administration will not stop
its all-out war against drugs.
Figures from different sources vary, but most media
organisations report that to date (until end of September), the
number of those killed in the drugs war has reached over 3,400 –
about half of these killed directly in police operations; some were
killed by vigilantes and in mysterious circumstances.
Still, the war on drugs – getting the most media coverage
– remain but one aspect in Duterte’s first 100 days. Some
significant moves that Duterte has done in his first 100 days
include enforcing transparency in the executive department (by
signing a Freedom of Information requirement in the executive
branch); enforcement of a ceasefire with major rebel groups;
all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf; and undertaking a cleaning
up programme in some bureaucracies like the Department of
Agrarian Reform, the LTO, PNP-DILG, among others.
‘Prayer of the Faithful’*
By Maria Luz Catimbang-Espinosa
O, Poong Digong sinasamba ka namin
Ikaw ang sugo sa aming mga isipan at damdamin
Ikaw ang shabu na nagdadala sa amin sa langit upang kahit
saglit kahirapan ay ‘wag naming isipin
Mga pagmumura mo ay parang heroin, nakakabangag,
nakakabato
Subalit sa heaven kami’y nakakapag-disco.
O, Poong Digong sinasamba ka namin
Di bale nang ikaw ay masahol pa kay Putin
Siguro naman hindi ka kakain na parang cannibal kagaya ni
Idi Amin.
O, Poong Digong sinasamba ka namin
Lahat ay aming gagawin basta’t ito’y iyong sabihin
Sana kami ay ‘wag malasin
Kami ay magsasaya o dili kaya’y mananahimik
Sapagkat ikaw ang aming diyos
Amen at amen lamang ang aming sasabihin
Nawa’y iyong pagpalain ang mga napag-utusang pumatay at
mga inosenteng namamatay dahil sa lagim na binibigkas
ng iyong bibig
Utos mo man ay mabagsik
Ito’y balewala sa aming mga adik-adik.
O, Poong Digong sinasamba ka namin
Sa aming pagpanaw hiling namin
Ikaw ay nandoon din
Upang tayo ay mag-jamming
Rock n roll sa langit
O Poong Digong na walang kasing lupit.
Amen (16M times)
*A post on Facebook. Used with permission by the writer, an
NSW resident, a Bicolana, who regularly observes politics in
the Philippines.
Photo credit: inquirer.net