SAYS SORRY FOR THE LIVES LOST

Duterte commends authorities for drug busts which killed 4 Chinese, netted P3.9-B shabu

President Rodrigo Duterte commended law enforcement personnel over two drug busts which netted P3.9 billion worth of shabu and killed four Chinese individuals including someone allegedly linked to the Mexican drug cartel Sinaloa. 

Duterte, in a taped address aired Wednesday morning, said anti-drug operations in Zambales and Bataan also led to the arrest of three other suspected Chinese drug personalities. The operations were jointly executed by the police, military, Bureau of Customs and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The President said one of the four who were killed was named Youhua Xu and he is allegedly one of the biggest shabu importers in the Philippines and is a member of a transnational drug trafficking organization.

"This is a big syndicate that not only operates in the Philippines but also in Southeast Asia and maybe, in connection with Sinaloa drug syndicate in Mexico. I would like to extend my highest commendation and heartfelt gratitude for protecting the country," Duterte said.

"I give you my snappy salute and congratulations. If these were distributed, it could have destroyed our country. Kaya galit ako talaga sa mga droga (That is why I really hate drugs)," he added.

Four Chinese drug traffickers were killed Tuesday in Candelaria, Zambales during a drug bust, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said. A total of 500 kilograms of shabu were seized

"So I’m sorry, I’m sorry for the loss of lives. Hindi man natin ginusto ‘yan. (It is not our intention to get people killed). But I just hope that the countries from where these guys come from should understand that we have laws to follow," Duterte said.

The PNP said the drugs estimated to be worth P3.4 billion ($70 million) were transported via small boats in international waters then smuggled into the country. These were allegedly set to be distributed in Luzon.

According to PNP, the operation "resulted in the death of four Chinese drug traffickers who engaged government operatives in a gun battle in a failed attempt to escape."

Aside from Youhua Xu who is from Quezon City, the other Chinese killed were Gao Manzhu, 49; Hong Jiashe, 58; Eddie Tan, 60, who were all from China.

A follow-up drug bust in Hermosa Bataan on Thursday led to the seizure of 80 kg of shabu estimated to be worth P544 million.

The drug war is the centerpiece of the Duterte administration, but this policy is facing an International Criminal Court scrutiny after former ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda recommended that the war on drugs and its perpetrators should be probed by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity. —KG/RSJ, GMA News