President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday warned local officials against involvement in the illegal drug trade, saying they could be held liable for “high treason.”
Speaking at a closed-door meeting of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Luzon Island Cluster in Davao City, the President cautioned the officials and civil servants against dipping their hands into the narcotics trade.
“Do not mess up with drugs,” the President said, according to a statement released by Malacañang. “It is high treason if you do that to your country.”
“I’m not saying that it’s all about money, but you can have comfortable lives if you are a mayor. Just avoid drugs,” he added.
Been there…
The President earlier warned mayors on his “narcolist” to leave the drug trade or face harsh consequences — dismissal or suspension.
“As a former mayor myself, I understand the difficulties you are facing,” he said.
“That is why I am striving to provide our local governments the capability to address these difficulties,” he added.
The President reiterated his resolve to combat corruption, saying that he had been firing appointees on mere suspicion of being corrupt.
On providing security to local officials during the election season, the President said they were entitled to only two bodyguards.