Duterte says ”my enemy is my own government” in war on drugs

February 8, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday blamed his own government for failing to fulfill his promise to end the drug problem in the Philippines.

During his speech at the Peace and Order Summit for Barangay Officials at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation (ICR) in Legazpi City,  Duterte said he placed former Ronald Dela Rosa as the chief of Philippine National Police to find out how massive was the country's drug problem.

“I told him: Bato (Dela Rosa) open everything because I’m being boastful saying I can end this (drug problem) in six months, I know I can finish this,” Duterte said.

“When I became the president, Bato told me the truth. How can I solve the problem in six months, my enemy is the Bureau of Customs, police generals. My enemy is my own government, so what can I do?” he added.

Duterte then said if these government officials will kill just to save themselves, he wants that and is ready to give it to them.

“Then I said, you want killing? I like that, I will give you that,” he said.

However,  Duterte clarified that he cannot kill woman and children.

“I cannot kill women and children. In my 23 years as mayor, I avoided it. I cannot kill a woman, especially if she’s pretty,” said Duterte.

He then slammed anew human rights groups by telling them to go to his house after his term ends.

Duterte said the groups are more worried over a suspected drug addict instead of its victim, citing the medical student who died during a festival in Cebu due to party drugs.

“That’s why I said if you enter that (drug addiction), I will really kill you. The human rights (groups) are listening. the judges, if I’m no longer in office, go ahead make my day,” he said.

Duterte removed a lot of officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs and in his drug list.

Because of his commitment to end the problem, Duterte’s war on illegal drugs gained a lot of critics over the 5,000 people killed during operations.

But Duterte said, “If that happened to you, it’s your fault for violating the law”. Ella Dionisio/DMS