2 colonels, not generals, still involved in illegal drugs – Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday corrected an earlier statement he made, in which he linked two unnamed “generals” to the illegal drugs trade, and said that the officials he was referring to were actually colonels.

“Wala, walang generals [involved]. I’m sure of that. Sa aking report na dumating sa akin, wala. Parang-- colonel I think,” he told reporters upon his return to Davao from an official visit to Russia.

On Thursday, Duterte claimed there were two generals “still playing with drugs” though he did not specify if he was referring to soldiers or cops. 

“Nalilito kasi ako diyan sa superintendent-superintendent na ‘yan kasi ang alam ko lang superintendent [ay] ‘yung superintendent ng eskwelahan [...]  Stop it. We’re comfortable with the ways of the old. Do not introduce unnecessary changes,” the president explained.

Duterte made the comment amid the “ninja cops” and drug recycling issues currently hounding the police force after Baguio City Mayor and former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Benjamin Magalong made claims that also implicated Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde.  — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News