*Incoming PNP chief warned mayors involved in the drug trade
*He said they won’t be given special treatment, will be handled like ordinary criminals
*He will also appoint new regional directors who aren’t afraid of local officials coddling drug lords
MANILA, Philippines – Local officials involved in the drug trade, you have been warned.
Reiterating his vow to implement President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to wipe out the illegal drug trade in the country, incoming Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa warned mayors who coddle drug lords in their area that they will be treated just like any other criminal.
“We will treat them like ordinary criminals. They committed a crime. I don’t care if you’re a mayor. You were elected using your drug money,” the Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted him as saying.
Dela Rosa also assured that these officials who will be caught red-handed won’t be afforded any special treatment.
“There would be no special treatment. How could you give someone a special treatment when he has committed a graver sin against the country because he was chosen as a mayor yet he has served as the drug lord in their area? He has committed a graver sin, right? So we would give you an ordinary criminal treatment? You might as well leave your post,” he said.
As a way of strengthening the PNP to help in Duterte’s anti-crime drive, Dela Rosa said he would appoint 15 new regional directors who won’t be afraid to defy local officials who are coddling drug lords.
“Our drug problem worsened because many of our commanders are afraid to go against the drug lords. They say that they have the protection of the mayor, governor or congressman. I would assign people who won’t be afraid to go against the drug lords,” he said.
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