President Duterte has described himself as a disciplinarian of police officers--one who would personally beat up cops if they cross the line.
"Pero ‘yung pulis na abuso? Iyan ang ayaw ko talaga, totoo ‘yan (Police officers who are abusive? I really don't like them, that's true)," Duterte said during one of his ad libs in his "Talk to the People" public briefing on late Tuesday night, Jan. 4.
He recalled a particular case about a cop in Davao City who became too "triggerhappy" during his birthday celebration. Duterte is a former mutli-term mayor of the city.
"Ang pulis magpaputok? Minsan sa Davao noon, brrrttt. Saan ang... Tawag ako sa pulis, 'Saan ‘yan?' 'Sir, bandang ano ‘yan.' Punta ako doon, puntahan ko ‘yung pulis, 'Bakit ka nagpaputok? Marami dito.' 'Sir, ano lang, sir, celebrate. Happy-happy para...' P***** i*****. 'Halika sa baba. Bumaba ka diyan sa bahay mo.' Ito birthday mo bugbugin, bugbog-ation (A police officer who discharges his firearm? There was an indicent in Davao before, brrrttt. I called the police, 'Where did that happen?' 'Sir that happened in this area.' So I went there and I confronted the cop, 'Why did you fire your gun? There's quite a lot here. 'Sir, this is just for celebration. For happy-happy...' You son of a b****. 'Come over downstairs. I'll beat you up on your birthday, bugbog-ation)," he said.
His story notwithstanding, Duterte boasted that the police in Davao are the "most behaved" police in the Philippines.
"Every military or police officer who is facing charges for a crime connected with the performance of his duties, tinutulungan ko (I help them). Wala akong (I have no) --- without exception.
"Pero kung may pulis magpunta sa akin noon mayor ako, magsabi siya na binugbog siya ng asawa niya na pulis lasing pa, pinupuntahan ko ‘yung pulis, bugbugin ko ‘yan sa harap ng asawa niya. Ganoon ang style ko (But if a policeman came to me when I was mayor and complained that his wife--who was also a police officer--beat him up for being drunk, I'd go to that policeman and beat him up in front of his wife. That's my style)," he said.
"Oh ‘di behave. Pinaka-behave na pulis ang Davao. Well, totoo ‘yan. Tanungin mo ‘yung pulis. Magdemanda ka? Sige, magdemanda ka (That's why they're behaved. Davao police is the most behaved. That's true. You can ask the police. You want to press charges? Go ahead and sue). Tsk," the Chief Executive said.
But Duterte stressed that police officers who aren't abusive and are just performing their jobs need not fear getting clobbered by him.
"Pero pulis nagtatrabaho? Huwag kayong matakot. Mismong pera ko ipupusta ko sa iyo. Kasi ‘yan ang utos ko eh. Huwag kang matakot magtrabaho. Kung kita mo (But a police officer who does his job? You have nothing to fear. I'll bet my own money on you. Because I'm the one who gave you orders. Don't be afraid to perform your job. If you see that) your life is in danger, you proceed accordingly," the President said.