The president sees no need for ‘Martial Law’ in the war against illegal drugs.
President Rodrigo Duterte emphasized that there is no need for him to declare Martial Law to sweep away personalities in the government involved in illegal drugs.
The president reiterated that he is not yet done in naming officials linked in the illegal drug trade after he has bared on Sunday the indentity of 160 local officials, judges, military and police officers.
The chief executive officer gave a hint that not only judges are involved in the trade and are inluded in his ‘narco-list’ but also, there are prosecutors and barangay chairmen all around the country.
Duterte added that corrupt prosecutors are conspirators with illegal drug trade syndicates.
“There will be a purging actually without declaring martial law, I will cleanse this government”, assured Duterte.
Meanwhile, Duterte assured that he is ready to answer to Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno’s letter to him regarding his naming and shaming seven trial court judges involved in illegal drugs.
The president is ready to enlighten Sereno why he had to name the seven and how they are linked to the widespread ‘trade’.
He explained to the media that as a president, he has to announce such information because it is part of the Executive Order No. 2 or the Freedom of Information (FOI) which he signed recently.
“Out of respect sa Supreme Court I will answer it, sasabihin ko, ma’am ganito ‘yan, hindi ‘yan accusatorial. I have the duty to tell the public para malaman ang danger at malaman kung sino ang nagpalaki ng industriya ng illegal drugs”, Duterte said.
Named were: Judge Lorinda Mopas of Dasmariñas, Cavite; Judge Reyes of Baguio City; Judge Savillo of RTC Branch 13, Iloilo City; Judge Casiple of Kalibo, Aklan; Judge Rene Gonzales of an MTC; Judge Exekel Dagala of an MTC; and Judge Dapa of Siargao.
In the four-page letter of Sereno, she said that she is worried that the naming will affect how the judges would carrry out their adjudicative role. She fears that it will create a problem in the schedule of hearings and conferences on the cases on the bench of the linked judges.
She also called Duterte’s pronouncement as ‘premature’ because his so-called narco-list was only based on informal investigations only.
She suggested the the court will be given the chance to seek preventive measure before the premature public announcement.
I like watching Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s impromptu speeches. He speaks his heart and his mind and ultimately, he captures his listeners’ imagination. He is a visionary and a crusader. He is unlike any president our country ever had and that is great because he is not a traditional politician.
I fervently hope and pray that Pres. Rodrigo Duterte accomplishes his mission and that he lives long and fulfilled after his 6-year term. Just like Pres. Lee Kuan Yew’s role in Singapore, his advise will be invaluable even after he steps down from office in 2022.