By Argyll Geducos
President Duterte said that while he appreciated foreigners coming into the country with their investment, he cannot let those get away with kidnapping and still killing their victim even if the ransom was already paid.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (REY BANIQUET / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Duterte made the statement as he attended the launch of the Golden Topper Corporate in Parañaque City Wednesday evening.
In his speech, Duterte said he understood that foreigners are coming to the country to do business and make their profit. He said he appreciated it because it generates employment for the Filipino people.
However, he said that some foreign nationals are coming to the country to play trade lend money but resort to kidnapping if the debtor could not pay.
"For those who are there, those foreigners, I will not particularize, but there are foreigners who come here to play their trade, lending money and if the debtor cannot pay, they kidnap and sometimes they ask for ransom. And even with the delivery of the money for ransom, they just go ahead and kill the victim," Duterte said.
The President said he will not hesitate to kill them if they will not stop their deeds.
"You know, we’re good friends with everybody. But I will not hesitate even to tell your ambassador I killed your --- your idiot citizen because he was f****** in my country. I told you not," he said.
"Especially kidnap for ransom and those who kidnap and kill even if the money has already been delivered. You… To me you are just also another carcass," he added.
Duterte revealed that his order to the police was to catch them dead or alive.
"There is no other order to the police. It’s to capture you dead or alive. Preferably dead so that you cannot go back to your country to do crime again and be back again in my country to do another," he said.
"Let us be very clear. You can come, you can play your trade, you can commit your crimes. But if I catch up with you, it is dead or alive. Preferably dead. Alive, I have to feed you. There’s a rice crisis in this country. I --- I… One mouth less would be good for my country," he added.
Duterte's statement came almost a month after the Philippines and China agreed to continue working together to combat crimes surrounding Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) involving Chinese nationals.
Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana earlier explained that China's sudden request for the Philippines to ban all online gambling operations may have stemmed from their desire to protect their citizens in the country since they are being kidnapped or being killed because of the industry.