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Pulong Duterte offers to help Davao City drug pushers if they surrender
Davao City Acting Mayor Paolo "Pulong" Duterte on Monday promised to help self-confessed drug dealers if they surrender themselves to local authorities.
“Kung tinud-anay ang ilang pag bag-o, tabangan nato sila. Bisag ginagmay na makanegosyo sila [If these drug pushers are really serious in their promise to reform and change their ways, we are willing to help them. They can start by putting up small businesses],” he said in an interview with reporters in Davao City.
Duterte made the statement after seven individuals surrendered and were turned over to him by Councilor Edgar Ibuyan Jr. They were not identified but were said to have been operating in Bankerohan.
Pulong, the city's Vice Mayor, is acting Mayor while his sister Sara is on vacation leave. Sara, who was elected Mayor last May, is away until July 22.
Pulong also warned his constituents against getting involved in drugs and advised users to go into rehab.
“Kamong mga taga-Davao na nalambigit anang droga, nagabaligya, kabalo naman mo na naa mo diha sa delikado [You know that if you are involved in the illegal drugs trade, you are putting your lives at risk],” he said, urging them to look for better ways to make a living.
Pulong's father, newly installed President Rodrigo Duterte, centered his campaign on fighting crime and illegal drugs, vowing to suppress both in six months.
Before the elder Duterte took his oath as the 16th President of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police (PNP) recorded a spike in killings of suspected drug couriers.
Meanwhile, PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa plans to implement Oplan TokHang nationwide. TokHang—a portmanteau word coined from "tuktok" (knock) and "hangyo" (plead)—was his program to curb the drug trade in Davao City when he was the city's police director from 2011 to 2013. — BM, GMA News
