Philippines’ Duterte says police can kill “idiots” who resist arrest

Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte with the parents of Kian Loyd Delos Santos, the teenager who was allegedly killed by the police during an anti-drug raid on Aug. 17.

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered police on Monday to “kill the idiots” who violently resist arrest during anti-drug operations.
The president also announced the assignment of controversial police chief Jovie Espenido to Iloilo City, which he has described as the “most shabulized” in the country, a reference to the sale and distribution of illegal drugs.
Espenido led the police raids that resulted in the killing of Ozamis City mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and 14 others on July 30. Duterte assured the police chief of his full support, but reminded him to follow the rules of engagement.
“I will support you and we, the two of us, we’ll all go to jail. Do not worry. Just follow the rules of engagement, the requirements of the performance of duty which you have learned in the police academy for almost four years,” Duterte said at a National Heroes Day celebration in Taguig.
“Murder and homicide or … unlawful killing is not allowed,” Duterte said, but he continued: “In the performance of your duty, tell your men that whenever their life is in danger, your duty requires you to overcome the resistance of the person you are arresting. If he resists and it is violent, placing in jeopardy the lives of my policemen and, of course, the military, you are free to kill the idiots. That is my order to you.
“I hate to see dead policemen and soldiers performing their duty. Do you hear me?”
Duterte also met the parents of Kian Loyd Delos Santos, 17, who was killed by police during an anti-narcotics sweep last week in Caloocan City. Post-mortem reports indicate that the teenager was defenseless when he was shot, contradicting a police claim that he fought back. 
The president assured Lorenza and Saldy Delos Santos that justice would be served and there would be no interference in the case. 
Thousands of people joined Kian’s funeral on Saturday to protest at the government’s war on drugs.
Renato M. Reyes Jr., secretary-general of New Patriotic Alliance, said it was “a war on the poor.” 
“It falsely claims to be a solution to the proliferation of illegal drugs but targets mostly street-level dealers and not the big criminal syndicates in and out of the government,” said Reyes.
Karapatan, an alliance for the advancement of people’s rights, also said Duterte’s anti-drug campaign was a failure and was taking the nation nowhere. 
Government figures show more than 3,400 “drug personalities” have been killed by the police since the government launched its war on drugs when Duterte became president in July last year.