Duterte admits he was ‘wrong’ in war on illegal drugs
MANILA: For the first time ever, President Duterte admited he was “wrong” when he vowed to eradicate the problem of illegal drugs in six months, saying “hubris” could have prompted him to make such pronouncement during the 2016 presidential elections.
Duterte made the admission on Wednesday night during the inauguration of a modern bridge project on the island province of Cebu in the Visayas.
He said the project would improve mobility and boost the local economy.
In his speech, Duterte said he made the vow against illegal drugs, which could have helped him win the presidency in the 2016 elections.
“I said I can clean it up in six months. Then ater that, I realised I was wrong,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.
The president admited it could be “hubris” that prompted him make such pronouncement as he pointed out: “Maybe, it was hubris. It was (election) campaign time. It was made during the campaign. And the campaign is a boasting contest.”
According to Duterte, he realised how grave the drug problem was when he took his oath as president. And more so, he revealed, when he later learned that about six Philippine National Police (PNP) generals were allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
In the same speech, Duterte also admited that he was nearing the end of his six-year term. About 65 million eligible Filipinos are to go to the polls on May 9 to choose his successor.
But even if was no longer the president, he said he could not just sit idly as he vowed he would find ways to help solve the problem of illegal drugs.
“I am no longer president in a few days. But if you continue to fuck the Filipinos I might find a way,” he warned drug lords, highlighted by his trademark use of expletives.
“No quarters given. No quarters asked.” Foreign and local human rights advocates have denounced Duterte’s bloody and violent war on illegal drugs. Police said more than 5,000 drug suspects have been killed since Duterte launched the war when he took over as president on June 30, 2016.