Duterte: Drugs at its lowest in 2022

President Duterte reiterated his campaign battle cry to bring positive change and end the scourge of illegal drugs in the country within his term.

The resurgence of the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) despite the presence of Special Action Forces (SAF) troopers and the resignation of Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Benjamin De Los Santos due to the issue.

Duterte, in his speech in Davao City Friday night, said he will do everything to solve the illegal drug menace in the country and assured the public that drugs will be at its lowest by the end of his term in 2022.

“I have to stop drugs, really stop. And it will stop,” Duterte said. “I, Rodrigo Duterte, will defend and protect the Filipino nation. Period.”

“I assure you, by the time I make my — kung buhay pa ako (if I am still alive by then) — five years from now, drugs will be at its lowest,” he added.

During the campaign period, Duterte vowed to rid the Philippines of illegal drugs in three to six months. However, he extended his self-issued deadline until the end of his term after admitting that he did not realize the depth of the drug problem, citing 4 million drug dependents in the country.

Earlier Friday, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said Duterte was frustrated since even the President admitted that it would be difficult to get rid of the drug problem in the national penitentiary no matter who heads the BuCor.

However, Andanar said that the administration was not placing blame on anybody for the resurgence of the illegal drug trade at the NBP as even Duterte himself admitted that illegal drugs is one of the country's biggest problems.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, during Friday morning's Mindanao Hour press briefing, said certain actions are being overtaken to address the drug situation at the NBP.

He also said that the resurgence has definitely presented quite a challenge for Duterte.

“If you’re asking if the President is dismayed, definitely this presents quite a challenge. However, we're up to it and we will make sure, we’ll make sure that is properly addressed,” he added.