Rizal Hall, Malacañan Palace
January 19, 2017

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte congratulated the newly promoted officers and appointed police officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as he administered their oath of office in a simple ceremony at the Rizal Hall, Malacañan Palace.

In his message, the President reiterated that he will “do everything to preserve my country…do everything to preserve the Filipinos,” in reference to the administration’s war against illegal drugs.

He said that the enormity of the illegal drug trade not only involves national security, and has affected all sectors of society by destroying the lives of millions of Filipinos. In particular, the President stressed that one negative impact of this huge problem is a dysfunctional family.

He added that the country became a narco-politics state three or four years ago, with the drug addicts being ‘slaves’ or ‘puppets’ to the drug chemicals manufactured by criminals.

The Commander-in-Chief expressed his gratitude to the PNP for their selfless service to the nation, mentioning that the war against illegal drugs resulted to the deaths of 32 policemen and 19 soldiers. At the same time, he ordered the policemen to remain loyal to the flag and “just follow the law.”

Likewise, he issued a stern warning to the police officers not to go into the illegal drug trade because he will run after them.

President Duterte was joined in the oath taking ceremony by PNP Director General Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael Sueno.

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