Weeks before Rodrigo Duterte was formally declared President, drug users and pushers were gunned down at an unusually alarming rate.
During Duterte’s first week as Commander-in-chief, nearly 30 “suspected drug pushers” were killed in a span of three days (Jul 7 to 9).
According to an InterAksyon report, “policemen and unidentified assailants” were responsible for the deaths in Zambales, North Cotabato, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, South Cotabato, Quezon, Cebu, Cavite, Batangas and Sorsogon.
According to The Kill List by Philippine Daily Inquirer, as of Jul 7 — one week after Duterte’s inauguration — there have been 72 drug-related killings. Since May 10, the day after the elections, a total of 119 people have been killed for drug-related reasons.
It doesn’t look like the killings are going to stop any time soon. After all, Duterte himself warned us that “it will be bloody” if and when he wins. But he also got one thing right: Funeral parlors will thrive.
Speaking in Tondo, Manila on Jun 2, Duterte said, “The small-time funeral parlors here will surely thrive… And if your business is beginning to slow down, I will tell the police make [the killings] a bit faster so their business will earn.”
This isn’t really surprising since Duterte, who has earned “The Punisher” as one of his monikers, has been very vocal about the possible violence if he wins.
Fresh from Hong Kong last November, Duterte said in a Philippine Star report, “If I become President, I advise you people to put up several funeral parlor businesses because I am against illegal drugs… I might kill someone because of it.”
So, will you take President Duterte’s business advice?
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