Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) — In his last State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte launched another of his tirades blasting the illegal drug trade while admitting he has not yet come close to defeating the problem he initially promised would be gone six months into his term.
“While we have made great strides in ending rebellion and insurgency in various parts of the country, we still have [a] long way in our fight against the proliferation of drugs,” said Duterte during his speech on Monday at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
Duterte said the problem continues to proliferate as syndicates work with counterparts in other countries to import drugs.
He recalled his campaign promise in 2016 to rid the country of illegal narcotics within three to six months which led to his bloody war on drugs. However, he confessed he made the vow, thinking his approach in Davao City while he was mayor would work.
“When I first said I will fight drugs in six months, I thought it was like in Davao – you can either coerce, intimidate or bribe them,” said Duterte.
The President maintained his drug war “permeated every level and sector of society”, targetting manufacturers, suppliers, and peddlers as well as their allies in government. He mentioned that millions of drug dependents have surrendered while thousands of drug personalities have been captured.
Based on available government data, 293,841 drug suspects were arrested while 6,147 were killed in the 203,715 anti-illegal drug operations conducted from July 1, 2016 to May 31, 2021.
That is apart from the more than 20,000 deaths under investigation that the PNP reported in 2018. CNN Philippines requested an update on these cases, but it has yet to be granted.
Duterte did not mention the killed victims that made his bloody drug war widely opposed and criticized. Instead, he reiterated his perennial death threat against drug criminals.
“Those who destroy my country, I will kill you and those who destroy the young people of our country I will kill you…because I love my country,” he said. “We can do it the legal way but it would take you months and years.”
In his speech, Duterte also pushed Congress to pass a measure that would provide free legal assistance to help uniformed personnel facing charges related to performing their duties.
The police force itself has been embroiled in controversy over thousands of deaths resulting from its anti-illegal drug operations.
