President Duterte has no intention of apologizing for his much-criticized anti-narcotics campaign even as he warned that the drug menace would persist under the next administration.
Meanwhile, presidential spokesman and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the outgoing Chief Executive would continue his advocacies for good government, anti-corruption and anti-illegal drugs even as a private citizen.
Duterte maintained that he did the “right thing” in launching his war against drug syndicates right at the start of his six-year term in July 2016.
“I would say and I would insist na ang tail end sa administration na tama talaga ang ginawa ko. Hindi ako aatras. No apologies. No. Wala ako. Basta ang akin, tama ‘yung ginawa ko (I would say and I would insist that the tail end of the administration is that I did the right thing. I will not bow down. No apologies. For me, I did the right thing),” Duterte said in a taped “Talk to the People” program aired Thursday morning.
Duterte expressed dismay that despite his relentless anti-narcotics drive, the scourge of illegal drugs still plagues the country.
He also warned that the drug menace would persist under the next administration, given that billions of pesos worth of illegal drugs continue to enter the country.
“We continue to suffer from the drug problem. Hindi ito matatapos (This will not end),” he said. “Kaya dito talaga (So, here), it has to be a war. Hindi ito sabihin mo (You cannot call it) special operation ng (of the) police or the military. It cannot be because this thing is a very sinister and virulent activity that would affect life.”
Duterte said he was optimistic that his successor would continue his drug war.
He also hoped that the next leader would take a “stronger pressure” against drug traffickers.
“But I would insist on a continuance of the drug war,” Duterte said. “I hope that the next administration would be, maybe, [take] a strong pressure sa ginawa ko, mas mabuti. Pabalik-balik ang droga eh (compared to what I have done. That’s better because the drug problem is still there).”
Duterte also vowed that he would continue to take a vital role in fighting illegal drugs even beyond his term to maintain peace and order in the country.
“Maski na civilian ako, kung meron diyang ano, magsumbong ako sa pulis o sa PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency), do something about it kasi merong problema (Even if I’m a civilian already, I would ask the police or the PDEA to do something because we still have a problem),” he said.
As of March 2022, a total of 14,888 high-value targets have been arrested in the country since the anti-narcotics campaign was launched in July 2016, according to the Real Numbers released by the PDEA.
The PDEA record also showed that 336,796 drug suspects were arrested, while 6,241 others were killed in during 233,356 anti-drug operations nationwide.
The operatives also seized P88.83 billion worth of illegal drugs across the country, including P76.17 billion worth of shabu.
Acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar quoted his boss as saying was feeling “patriotic” about transferring the reins of governance to his successor. “We have not discussed preparations being made by the President on becoming a private citizen, but based on what he previously said, he will continue his advocacy for good government, to fight corruption and illegal drugs in our society,” Andanar said during a press briefing.
In a speech on May 6, Duterte said he wanted to resume his motorcycle-riding activities after he stepped down from office in June.
Duterte said he wanted to hunt down criminals like he used to do while he was mayor of Davao City, warning them not to watch out because he would still find and capture them.
Andanar said the newly created Presidential Transition Committee (PTC) would be in charge of determining when Duterte would ultimately leave the Palace.
“All the details will be among the topics to be discussed by the Presidential Transition Committee and the transition committee of the presumptive President,” he said.
Last February, Duterte said he had started packing his stuff so he could leave the Palace by March.
Instead of staying at his official residence in Malacañang, he said he plans to buy a two-bedroom condo in Manila and would only visit the Palace for “day-to-day” activities.
Duterte and his family’s official residence is in Davao City.
