DAVAO CITY (August 2) — President Rodrigo Duterte wants the smuggled Hummer cars and luxury vans reserved for the police and the military.
This as he spared over ten Hummer cars from the destruction of PHP296-million worth of 68 luxury vehicles and eight motorcycles at Port Irene in Cagayan on July 30.
Duterte said he instructed Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) administrator Raul Lambino to reserve the Hummer vehicles for the police and the military.
During his speech at the 68th National Intelligence Coordinating Council founding anniversary at the Philippine International Convention Center last Tuesday, Duterte emphasized “I said, do not destroy it because I’ll give it to the military and the police for their use.”
On the other hand, Duterte said the vans will be given to the local government in Cagayan.
“Then the vans, because they are within the vicinity of the local governments, these are for Cagayan. Divide these among themselves,” he said.
Duterte said the condemnation of the luxury vehicles was part of his fight against smuggling and corruption.
“I will really go after graft and corruption. I was there in Cagayan yesterday (Tuesday) to destroy — so that it will be finished. The issue of smuggling kept on coming back and then nobody will get. Then right after a few months, the action office will announce that it would sell. So I said, ‘Stop it because nothing gets there,” the Chief Executive said.
He reiterated his campaign promise to run after illegal drug traders and corrupt officials.
“I do not have the luxury of slowing down even or just ignore what I promised because that gave me victory. I could not be a traitor, turn my back on my promises,” Duterte said.
He said human rights advocates should also consider the lives of policemen killed during legitimate operations against drug personalities and criminals.
He warned men in uniform who are into illegal activities “your days are numbered.”
“You can be very sure there will be a project for you and really that is to neutralize or terminate you. If I will not do it, nothing will happen to our country at this time when we are all bombarded with drugs, nobody seems to obey the law,” he said.-NewsLine.ph
