PNP chief, AFP believe there won’t be mass killing under Duterte

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ricardo Marquez expressed belief Tuesday that massive killing will not happen if Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will be elected president of the country.

Asked at a press conference what he thinks of the previous statement of Duterte that he will kill criminals, Marquez said they would wait for the new president to be proclaimed and assume power.

“Premature naman na mag-assume na ganyan ang mangyayari. I think the best mode for the PNP is to wait until the time he assumes power. Makikita natin yung programa talaga kasi yung mga sinasabi niya dati, it is a campaign platform, sinasabi niya to get votes,” he said.

“Iba na siguro when the document is written already, he is a lawyer, he is a prosecutor. As a president, sa tingin ko walang mangyayaring ganun,” he added.

Asked if the PNP is ready to serve Duterte, who is now leading the initial election results, as their commander in chief, Marquez said the role of the PNP is to safeguard the ballot.

“From the very beginning ang trabaho ng PNP is to guard the ballot, we should respect the  will of the people. We will be an instrument for the peaceful transfer of the ballots and vote counting machines,” he said.

On the promise of Duterte to solve criminality in three to six months, Marquez said the PNP has the metholodogy to level up their performance.

He added that they are open to feedbacks on how they can serve the people better.

“We will do our best as we have been doing in the past months, we have made some significant improvements in how we do things,” he said.

He further said that solving criminality goes beyond law enforcement and the contribution of other pillars of the justice system is equality important.

“The contribution of other pillars will be as important as the contribution of the PNP,” he said.

Marquez also said he will submit a courtesy resignation come June 30 to allow the new president a free hand to choose his PNP chief.

He is set to retire in August 2016.

On the part of Armed Forces of the Philippines, spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said they are ready to serve whoever will be elected leader of the country.

“Ang AFP ay handang magsilbi kahit na sino ang namumuno. Kmai ay mananatiling tapat sa taumbayan, tapat sa bansa sinuman ang nanunungkulan na dumaan sa kinikilalang paraan,” he said. 

Just like Marquez, he also believed that Duterte will follow due process in dealing with criminals.

“Sila ay nanunumpa sa Saligang Batas. Part lang ng proseso ng eleksyon yung mga sinabi niya, naniniwala ako na pag oras ng trabaho ay seryoso na siya sa kanyang panunungkulan, Napatunayan na niya yan sa Davao, pag siya ay nahalal ay ganun din ang magiging ayos," he said. — RSJ, GMA News