No exemptions in drug war, says Palace after ex-Maguindanao mayor killed in police ops

There will be no exemptions in the administration's war against illegal drugs, the Malacañang said on Sunday on the heels of the death of a former Maguindanao mayor in a recent anti-drug operation by police.

"Regardless of the social and political status of persons involved and/or engaged in the illegal drug industry, the same fate will necessarily befall them if they resist arrest and shoot it out with the arresting officers," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

The Palace said that the law allows the state security forces to "use mortal violence" if their lives are jeopardized by target suspects while doing a legitimate police operation.

"The state has not initiated and will never initiate drug-related killings outside the ambit of the law," he added.

Panelo released the statement after former Parang town Mayor Talib Abo Sr. was slain in an anti-drug operation Friday midnight for supposedly resisting arrest.

Abo's brother Bobby was also killed on the same day after allegedly trying to elude arrest in a separate police operation.

The former mayor's daughter Amy, on the other hand, was detained after some evidence was found by police through a search warrant served in her house.

Panelo who is also the presidential legal counsel, said that President Rodrigo Duterte's administration will not tolerate killings outside the bounds of the constitution.

"Those who disobey or violate the law will pay the price for their crimes or transgressions. The President will employ any means, unconventional or not but constitutionally allowed, to enforce the law," he said.

In 2006, when he was Davao City mayor, Duterte accused Abo of being involved in the illegal drug trade in the city.

Abo had denied the allegation. — Dona Magsino/BM, GMA News