Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 2) — President Rodrigo Duterte warned incumbent Malabon City Mayor Antolin “Lenlen” Oreta to rid the city of drugs in a month or face arrest.
“Ganito ang Malabon ngayon, it’s your choice. Pinili ninyo eh. Droga, pinili ninyo,” Duterte said in his speech at a campaign sortie of the ruling PDP-Laban party in Malabon City.
[Translation: “This is Malabon now, it’s your choice. You chose drugs.”]
He issued a stern warning to Oreta, who is seeking reelection under the main opposition Liberal Party. He is running against Vice Mayor Jeannie Sandoval of the Nacionalista Party, whom the President endorsed.
“Mayor, linisin mo ang Malabon mo. Bigyan kita isang buwan. Pag hindi, sabihin ko kay Ricky (Sandoval) sorry na lang ha … pahuli mo mayor ninyo. Itapon ko sa Manila Bay,” Duterte said.
[Translation: Mayor, clean up your Malabon. I give you a month. Otherwise, I will tell Ricky, I’m sorry, have your mayor arrested. I’ll throw him into Manila Bay.]
Ricky Sandoval, the vice mayor’s husband, is running for congressman of the lone district of Malabon under the President’s party.
Duterte added he will also order the Armed Forces of the Philippines to arrest armed goons in the city.
“I will order the Armed Forces to go to Malabon and hulihin ang lahat na may armas [and arrest everyone with firearms],” he said.
In his speech, the President said Malabon continues to be plagued by two other big problems: corruption and lack of peace and order. If not addressed, he said the city will never see progress.
