PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, June 26, revealed that he has directed Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año to conduct an audit of places with high crime rate and alarming presence of illegal drugs trade.
Duterte made the remark, amid his intent to step up the fight against illegal drugs and criminality.
"I have suggested to General Año, the [Local Government OIC], na to make an audit, isali ko na 'yung mga mayor na matataas talaga yung crime rate mo pati yung droga because of the frequent encounter," he said during the oath-taking of Zamboanga Peninsula's 1,904 newly-elected village chairmenin Zamboanga del Sur.
(I have suggested to General Año, the [Local Government OIC] to make an audit of places under the mayors' jurisdiction that have high crime rate and frequent encounter of illegal drugs [operation].)
The President also reiterated his plan to arm village chairmen to help him stamp down criminality and narcotics sale.
He warned that charges would be filed against "incompetent" village officials who would fail to address the spate of criminality and the proliferation of illegal drugs in their respective villages.
"Magtrabaho kayo. Bigyan ko kayo ng armas. Pero I want [to curb] terrorism and drugs, and I will have an audit. And if you are not at par, I will file charges against you for your incompetence," Duterte said.
(Do your job. I will give you arms. But I want [to curb] terrorism and drugs, and I will have an audit. And if you are not at par, I will file charges against you for your incompetence.)
"Ayaw kong gawin iyan but you have to defend the country. The long and short yung binasa ko, the long and short of that is one, you protect the people, the Republic of the Philippines, [and] second, that we must preserve the nation. Iyan lang," he added.
(I don't want to do it but you have to defend the country. The long and short of what I read, the long and short of that is one, you protect the people, the Republic of the Philippines, [and] second, that we must preserve the nation. That's it.)
Duterte also gave assurance that village executives they would not spend "any single day in prison," as long as they are fulfilling their mandate to serve the people.
He promised that he would protect them against possible cases that would be slapped with them just because they are lawfully doing their job.
"I expect you to of course give your best. Magkakaso kayo in connection sa trabaho ninyo, gaya ng pulis at militar, sagot kita, ako ang bahala," the President said.
(I expect you to of course give your best. If you face charges, in connection with your job -- just like the police and the military -- I will answer for you. I will take care of it.)
"Basta kayo in the performance of duty, lahat ng taga-gobyerno, you will not go to prison, I promise you. That is my commitment to you. Mag-trabaho lang kayo. Basta walang abuso, no personal gain."
(As long as it is in the performance of duty as government workers, you will not go to prison, I promise you. That s my commitment to you. Just do your job and make sure there's no abuse, no personal gain.) (VoxPop Philippines)
