DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 28 Oct) – Police authorities in Davao City will shoot illegal drug traders who will be caught still operating here after the 48-hour ultimatum issued by Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte that started at 5 p.m. on Monday to criminals to stop the selling of illegal drugs or leave the city.
But Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 spokesperson Supt. Antonio Rivera, speaking during the AFP/PNP press conference Wednesday, clarified that a shoot-to-kill will only be the last resort of the authorities if the criminals will resist arrest.
“It will depend on the circumstances being conducted in the case of illegal drugs because there are criminals who fight, which compels the police to shoot to defend his life,” he said.
If criminals will continue the selling of illegals drugs despite the 48-hour ultimatum, he said police operations will then be launched.
The ultimatum ends at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, spokesperson of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), added that all of the operations of the police officers respect human rights but they will be forced to conduct “one time, big time” operation along with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) if the selling of illegal drugs is still rampant here.
Records from the DCPO revealed that a total of 2,371.32 grams of shabu worth P17.157 million and 1,779 grams of marijuana worth P78,000 were confiscated from January to August this year.
“With these, the DCPO was recognized by the PNP National Headquarters and adjudged as the best performing City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group of the year 2015,” she said.
Last October 2, the DCPO launched an anti-illegal drugs campaign called “KATOK” Droga (Katilingban og Kapulisan Kontra Droga).
DCPO chief Vicente Danao Jr. said they are expecting to increase the number of arrested illegal drug suspects in the city with the new program. Stickers and tarpaulins containing the contact information of DCPO will be distributed to all houses in the city.
Driz added the illegal drugs are problems that are common worldwide.
She said even if they are successful in zeroing in the illegal drugs in the city, there will always be those coming from outside of the city who will attempt to bring in drugs.
Col. Cristobal Zaragoza, commanding officer of Task Force Davao, said they will do its part in checking the vehicles going to and leaving the city at the checkpoints.
“If we receive information, we will coordinate with the PDEA so that they will do the work,” he added.
