Image from Manny Pacquiao’s Facebook page - Boxer-turned-senator defended president amid war on drugs
- He said it’s the drug lords who are killing people, not the police
- He also said Duterte’s the right man for the job, supports his call for death penalty return
MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Manny Pacquiao has expressed his support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s tough anti-drug drive amid a spike in killings.
According to the boxer-turned- solon, drug lords— and not policemen— are the ones killing off drug suspects to prevent them from turning whistleblower.
“President Duterte and our policemen do not want to violate the law. They follow due process… You know, there are some drug lords who kill their men because their men might squeal on them. That’s what is happening,” Rappler quoted him as saying. “I’m worried because I have children. I’m worried that the problem of drugs, crimes won’t be solved. It’s important to address the problem.”
Pacquiao, who met Duterte when he visited Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, also revealed that both of them talked about the president’s call for the reimposition of the death penalty— a measure he strongly supports as well.
“The good programs in our country, as well as the fight against criminality and drugs in the Philippines – those are what we talked about. President Duterte is appealing that death penalty be restored so it can help deter crimes,” he said.
The senator also said he believes the country made the right choice in picking Duterte to be the president.
“Now I realize everything – the reason why Digong was elected president is because drugs are everywhere in the Philippines. If Digong hadn’t become president, drugs would continue to proliferate, many lives would be ruined because of drugs,” he said.
Thousands of drug suspects have surrendered while hundreds have been killed in the ongoing campaign against drugs so far.
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