Duterte in full control of war on drugs, Palace says

August 22, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte is in control of the war on drugs as current outrage over alleged extrajudicial killings could not have negative impact on investors' confidence in the Philippines, officials said on Tuesday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella debunked criticisms that Duterte was  out of control in handling the anti-drug operations following the spike in the number of those killed, including 17-year old student Kian Lloyd delos Santos.

"I think they misread the situation. The president is very concerned that these things will be properly handled and properly managed...it's clear that the President is in full control," he said.

A number of people held a protest at the People Power Monument in Quezon City on Monday night to express their condemnation over the extrajudicial killings of individuals allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III expressed belief that the outrage over the alleged extrajudicial killings could not affect the investors' confidence.

"I don't know, I don't think so. The (stock) market ( index) is still close to 8,000. I'm not shrugging it off. I'm just looking at the indicators. Nobody has pulled out any investment," he told reporters when asked if the outrage over the extrajudicial killings could impact business.

During his trip to Singapore last week, he noted businessmen he met there "seemed not to bring it up at all."

He said investors are more concerned about the "general environment for investments. Is it fair? Do they get a level playing field here? Is the taxation fair. Are the rules followed?" Celerina Monte/DMS