President Duterte Offers 'Prizes, Holidays' for Citizens who Kill Crooked Cops
Philippines president says those who kill dirty cops will win cash prizes and vacations
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Philippines President Duterte has announced that citizens who kill corrupt police officers will be awarded cash prizes and free vacations.
Speaking at a summit on Tuesday about his ongoing battle with drugs in his country, Duterte stated that if a person "will kill a superior because the superior is into drugs. I will give you a prize and a trip to Hong Kong.”
The president was offering the cash bounty to those who kill superior officers, dubbed "ninjas," whom they suspect of involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Last night a police colonel was killed. A ninja,” Duterte told the audience Tuesday at a summit on ending illegal drug trafficking, as cited by ABS-CBN News.
“I am going to reward any policeman who will kill a superior because the superior is into drugs.
"I will give you a prize and a trip to Hong Kong.”
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According to RT, Supt. Santiago Rapiz was killed during a shootout in a drug raid in Dipolog City on the Philippines island of Mindanao on Monday night.
Rapiz allegedly fought back when officers attempted to arrest him.
He was previously accused of involvement with suspected drug lord Melvin "Dragon" Odicta, who was himself killed in August 2016, reports The Philippines Inquirer.
Rapiz was reportedly on Duterte’s alleged "narco hit list."
“If I caught you, I’m sorry. That’s it,” Duterte added, as cited by The Inquirer.
“I will really kill you. That’s why I said, ‘Do not destroy my country because I will kill you. Do not destroy our young daughters and son because I will kill you.’”
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The president also described the drug trade as a “national security issue” adding that he would be calling on the military to assist the police in their anti-narcotics operations.
“This is a national security issue.
"I have every right to call on the Armed Forces to assist the police.
"Many of those are policemen who are stupid. Son of a b****!”
He has previously offered a bounty of 3 million Philippine pesos ($56,577) for the killing of any such rogue, "ninja cops" who recycle and resell drugs seized in police raids.
The president recently fired all senior customs officials in the country for failing to stop a major shipment of drugs from entering the country.
The ongoing and extremely violent drug war has been a hallmark of his presidency.
