‘LEAVE BACOLOD OR DIE!’

Du30 warns barangay captain in MassKara speech

“Pumunta ako dito kasi maganda talaga panoorin ang MassKara. Sadya,” says President Rodrigo Duterte during a speech at the Bacolod City public plaza on Oct. 27, 2018 where the various contingents in the schools category of the annual MassKara Festival street dance competition perform. This is the third consecutive year he has joined the MassKara Festival. He was in Bacolod City, too, during the 2016 and 201 7 editions of the festivity known for featuring gaudy smiling masks. ARCHIE REY ALIPALO/PN

BACOLOD City – President Rodrigo Duterte warned an unnamed barangay captain here engaged in illegal drugs to leave the city or get killed. He issued the warning during a speech last night at the Bacolod Public Plaza where the various contingents in the schools category of the annual MassKara Festival street dance competition performed.

“I will destroy you,” Duterte warned the barangay captain as he vowed to sustain his war on drugs up to the end of his six-year term in 2022.

Then addressing barangay officials in general, the President said some of them pretend to be upright when in fact they are engaged in various illegal activities such as drug trafficking.

This was the third consecutive year that Duterte joined the MassKara Festival. He was here during the 2016 and 201 7 editions of the festivity known for featuring gaudy smiling masks.

“Pumunta ako dito kasi maganda talaga panoorin ang MassKara. Sadya,” the President said in mixed Filipino and Hiligaynon.

In a freewheeling speech in front of hundreds of MassKara spectators and local officials of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, Duterte also blasted human rights defenders for seemingly turning a blind eye on the welfare of victims of drug traffickers.

At one point in his speech, the President indicated he wanted to name and shame the barangay captain but held himself back.

He appeared to have intelligence information about this barangay captain and seemed convinced about this official’s involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Duterte arrived at the Bacolod-Silay Airport around 6 p.m. yesterday, an hour late from his publicized schedule of arrival. From there, he took a helicopter to the Bacolod Public Plaza.

Just last month the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) said Bacolod City had become the main source of shabu in neighboring Iloilo city and province, a follow-up to its previous statement that Negros Occidental’s illegal drug problem appeared worse than Iloilo’s, citing the number of drug personalities who voluntarily surrendered or got arrested.

Most of the arrested drug personalities in Iloilo also revealed their shabu sources were Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, said Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police director.

“Bacolod City and Negros Occidental are near Cebu, Negros Oriental and Mindanao. Our antidrug enforcement unit’s operations are thus focused on Bacolod and Negros,” said Bulalacao who served as spokesperson of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame before his reassignment to Western Visayas in June this year.

The President’s entourage yesterday included daughter Sara Duterte Carpio, the mayor of Davao City, and Special Assistant Christopher Go.

They were welcomed by Bacolod City officials led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Cong. Greg Gasataya and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, and Negros Occidental officials.

ICONIC FESTIVAL

ALL SMILES. Dancers from Singcang-Airport National High School perform during the Street and Arena Dance Competition, Schools Category of the 2018 MassKara Festival on Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Bacolod City public plaza. The school won first runner-up in the High School level, behind the champion Mandalagan National High School. ARCHIE REY ALIPALO/PN

“The MassKara Festival is truly one of the Philippines’ most iconic festivals,” according to Duterte in a message to the people of Bacolod City.

He said it is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the people of Bacolod.

“From simply being an outlet of grief for the community, it has now grown into a colorful occasion that showcases the rich culture and traditions of the City of Smiles,” said the President.

This year’s MassKara is the 39th edition of the annual cultural extravaganza.

“I fervently hope that you will remain committed in strengthening the bonds that tie your community as you support the government’s various programs for our country’s development. Let us continue to be partners in nation-building so that we can collectively work towards real and meaningful change in our society,” added the President.

Eleven schools competed in the MassKara street and arena competition yesterday. They were the Education and Training Center School II, Sum-ag Elementary School, ABKASA Elementary School, Montevista Elementary School, Patricia Homes Elementary School, A.L. Jayme Elementary School, and Crispino V. Ramos Elementary School in the elementary level; and Barangay Singcang-Airport National High School, Mandalagan National High School, Bacolod City National High School, Mansilingan Agro National High School in the secondary level./PN

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