SAFETY FIRST
of two presidents ago, we were told by the United States, itself, that if we do not take care, if we do not watch out, our country will be swallowed by drugs. And it came to pass with, about two presidents,” Duterte said.
“And we saw mayors, city mayors and the chairmen of the most basic unit of government, 50,000 into drugs. And when I took over, I found out about nine generals
of drugs,” he added.
Duterte defended his administration’s bloody war on drugs and slammed his critics and rights advocates.
According to the President, he was surprised when even the United Nations Human Rights Commission “heavily criticized” his policy to kill drug suspects who refuse to surrender.
“I asked the police, ‘Ask your wife and children to walk the streets at night. If they come home unmolested, unbridled by worries, not victims of mugging and crimes.’ Because there were so many addicts in the streets. And I said, ‘I want that kind of environment [ that is free from drugs].’ Then I proceeded,” Duterte said.
“This I would pose to the entire community of the world. Is it wrong for a President to see, to say, rather, that: ‘ Do not destroy my country especially the children because I will kill you?’ And that was my order to the Armed Forces and to the police,” he added.
Duterte has overseen a narcotics crackdown, in which police have killed more than 6,000 suspected drug offenders since he was elected President three years ago.
Rights groups, however, say the actual number of dead is at least three times higher.
The government has repeatedly denied involvement in summary executions, saying drug suspects slain in police operations had resisted arrest.
“Lesson: when all parties act together with the aim of achieving a common objective, that goal will -