Philippine President Urges Public to Act as Hit Squads to Take Out Drug Dealers

Philippine President Urges Public to Act as Hit Squads to Take Out Drug Dealers

In a move no doubt hailed by crime weary Filipinos, but seen with fear or skepticism by others concerned with the potential explosion of vigilante justice, President-elect Duterte has asked the public to help him lower crime and “kill drug dealers”. Scroll down for what he said.

From TheBlaze:

The Philippine president-elect has encouraged the public to help him in his war against crime, urging citizens with guns to shoot and kill drug dealers who resist arrest and fight back in their neighborhoods.

In a nationally televised speech late Saturday, Rodrigo Duterte told a huge crowd in the southern city of Davao celebrating last month’s presidential victory that Filipinos who help him battle crime will be rewarded.

“Please feel free to call us, the police, or do it yourself if you have the gun — you have my support,” Duterte said, warning of an extensive illegal drug trade that involves even the country’s police.

If a drug dealer resists arrest or refuses to be brought to a police station and threatens a citizen with a gun or a knife, “you can kill him,” Duterte said. “Shoot him and I’ll give you a medal.”

The 71-year-old Duterte won the May 9 presidential election on a bold promise to end crime and corruption within six months of his presidency. That vow resonated among crime-weary Filipinos, though police officials considered it campaign rhetoric that was impossible to accomplish.

Human rights watchdogs have expressed alarm that his anti-crime drive may lead to widespread rights violations.

Obviously this can have massive unintended consequences. Justice belongs in the hands of the courts, not the people on the streets. It is understandable that people are sick of crime and criminals. But the answer is not to turn loose the populace with guns and the intention to take out criminals. Hopefully mob justice does not become the way of this new administration. Time will tell.

Sonja Bochow

I live in Newark, DE, am married, and the mother of four children; Liam, Brenna, Keira and Erin. I am also a full time Bible teacher and have a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from West Chester University.

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