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Lacson: Duterte should not urge public to arrest, kill suspected drug lords


Incoming Senator Panfilo Lacson said Monday that the call for the public to arrest and kill suspected drug lords should not come from President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Even as citizen's arrest is allowed under the Revised Penal Code and killing on self-defense may be accepted, the President should not encourage the public to take it upon themselves to kill accused drug personalities.

“Sa palagay ko ay hindi dapat manggaling pa sa isang halal na Pangulo ang pag-encourage sa publiko to take it upon themselves to arrest and kill suspected drug lords sa dahilang baka mawalan na ng control ang law enforcement agencies or officers sa pagsugpo ng ilegal na droga,” the comebacking senator said in a text message.

He said it is assumed that the public has no training in intelligence gathering or gathering validated intelligence with regards to drug lords unlike law enforcement officers.

He added that identifying the real drug lords undergoes a thorough study and discussions of different intelligence agencies in an “intelligence workshop.”

He said it is in an intelligence workshop where criminals and those involved in illegal drugs are listed in an "order of battle."

“Ang OB (order of battle) ay isang classified na dokumento at may takdang panahon para i-declassify ito kaya hindi maaaring basta na lang ipamahagi o i-disseminate sa mga walang intelligence clearance, lalo na sa mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan,” said Lacson.

On Saturday night during his thanksgiving party, Duterte said he will offer millions of pesos in rewards for the arrest and killing of drug lords and distributors.

"Ang bayad ko ngayon, pagka-drug lord P5 million 'pag patay. Kung (buhay), P4 million 999 thousand lang,” he said.

In the same speech at Davao Crocodile Park, Duterte urged the public to arrest suspected drug pushers, and even urged them to kill the suspects if they are armed and would resist arrest.

"Kaya kayong nandiyan sa neighborhood feel free to call us, the police, or do it yourself if you have the gun. Inaaresto kita bilang isang kriminal and I am invoking the criminal law of the land on the selling of shabu. Sumama ka sa akin sa istasyon. I have to bring you to the (police) station," he said. —ALG, GMA News

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