Presidential unit to go after rogue cops

President Duterte has formed a special unit to go after rogue elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who are allegedly involved in criminal activities.

He announced the creation of the new unit during a live television broadcast where he expressed personal contempt for those PNP elements whose nefarious activities have now come to more intense presidential and public scrutiny.

The President also minced no words when he issued a warning to go all-out against particular policemen or uniformed personnel should they be revealed as having broken the law themselves.

In the vernacular, Duterte said: “I tell it to you straight, while the whole country listens, that I will kill you. You can be sure of that.”

He was particularly incensed over police units or personnel who are themselves engaged in criminal activities.

“Those of you in the drug syndicates or those engaged in corruption while in office, we now have a special unit looking over your activities. If you make the mistake, I will kill you,” the President said.

He then ranted on personnel who join the police force only to commit atrocities that in his view does not warrant the mercy of his office.

“Why did you even become the police? What got into you? The police service is only for those who serve with the welfare of the country in mind, to those who serve for others,” he said rhetorically.

His rants mark a policy shift from when he encouraged the police to go all-out against alleged drug syndicates and their network of couriers and pushers peddling methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and other illegal drugs and not worry over the protestations of those more concerned with the violation of human rights and its allied issues.

He has told the police to just go do their duty and let Malacañang deal with the barrage of protests and complaints that has since ensued.