Davao City Fights Rice Smugglers, Mayor warned "I will kill you!"

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City, whose undercover taxi driver photo got viral in August 2013, has declared war against rice smugglers and warned the individuals behind the large-scale smuggling activities across the country.

In a report made by ABS-CBN news, Mayor Duterte said that he would not hesitate to use force to uncover the smuggling activities in the city. Duterte even warned the suspects and said, "I will kill you!"

“I want smuggling of rice in my city stopped. But if you still do not stop your smuggling activities, I will kill you,” Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said.

Duterte stated that if anyone will defy his order and will not stop smuggling rice in the area, he will personally help in hunting the criminals involved in the illegal activity. The mayor explained that he will use his "visitorial rights" and go to the places and warehouses of the alleged rice smugglers. Duterte added that he will validate their "electricity consumption, books with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and business licenses." Mayor Duterte also said he won't allow “even a single sack of rice smuggled in the city.”

Mayor Duterte issued a statement to the media that he would do his best to unmask whoever is behind the rice smuggling in Davao.

These official statements of the Mayor came in after BIR Commissioner Kim Henares sought his help to intervene the rice smugglers operating at the Davao City port.

Meanwhile, a certain David Tan was discovered as one of the alleged “financiers” of 26 cooperatives, who made large rice smuggling transactions according to the report of the Senate joint committee which investigated the existence of the rice smuggling cartel in the country. (ABS-CBN news)