No such thing as ‘bloodless cleansing’ - Duterte

Although he repeatedly said there will be no abuses and extrajudicial killings during his presidency if he wins the elections, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said blood may be shed in addressing criminality and drug problems in the Philippines.

“If I become president, there is no such thing as bloodless cleansing,” he said at a presidential forum at the De La Salle University.

He then explained his statement in a press briefing after the forum, "There could be no cleansing of criminals na bloodless. That is a very stupid preposition."

Duterte was talking about how crimes have escalated in the Philippines, mostly because of illegal drugs.

“My god, I hate drugs. And I had to kill people because I hate drugs,” he added.

“I do not execute people kneeling down with their hands tied at their back—if that is (what) you mean or what is meant by some as an extrajudicial killing—it is always a confrontation... It is always an armed confrontation,” he also said.

Duterte further explained that to combat criminality and drugs he would make sure law enforcement agencies will follow his orders to kill law breakers.

“If it would come down to a shooting, I would make sure my orders will be followed. Do not allow yourselves to be killed. My god, kill the criminals, and I will protect you. Do abuses, private crimes and I will kill you,” he said.

“Hindi ko kaya pumatay ng babae pati bata. Siguro iyong drug lord? Maybe yes with pleasure. Kasi galit talaga ako. I am mad,” he added.

In his speech, Duterte also said he will get rid of the country’s drug problem within three to six months.

“Drugs and criminality must stop. They are simply intolerable to me. And I would do it even—listen—would cost me my life, my honor, and even my liberty. Wala akong gitna niyan. But it will always be accordance with law,” he said.

His running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, said that if both of them are elected into office, they will resign if the people don't feel safer after six months on the job.

Cayetano, explaining Duterte's statements, cited what happened in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25, 2015 when 44 officers of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force [PNP-SAF] died while in a mission to get terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir aka Marwan.

"When the President [Benigno Aquino III] sent SAF to get Marwan, was it bloodless? Diba ang order nila “dead or alive” kukunin? Paano nila kukunin ng dead iyon kung bloodless?" he said at a press briefing following the forum.

"Kapag si Mayor [Duterte] nag-order sa police na defend yourself, follow the Constitution but defend yourself, it’s murder?... Ang rules of engagement ay the same for everyone," Cayetano stressed. — BAP, GMA News