Criticism on drug war contributed to foreign policy shift – Pres. Duterte

MANILA — Criticism from the West contributed to the shift in the Philippines' foreign policy, President Rodrigo Duterte said.

"I said a few days ago, a few months ago, that I will charter a new course, changing direction of the foreign policy," Duterte said during a press conference during his four-day visit to China.

"Unfortunately, this started with the war against drugs," he said.

"What prompted me to change foreign policy is that almost getting a raw deal with the West and the EU (European Union) signed a manifesto and they told me it was prepared by the lawyers and I share that the lawyers warned me that I can be prosecuted," Duterte said.

In September, the European Parliament condemned the increase in drug-related killings in the Philippines.

“[Members of the European Parliament] urge the Philippines government to put an end to the current wave of extrajudicial executions and killings, launch an ‘immediate investigation’ into them and adopt ‘specific, comprehensive policies and programs,’ in full compliance with national and international obligations and respect for human rights,” the EP said in a statement after the Parliament Debate in Brussels.

It also said that it understands that illegal drugs "remain a serious national and international concern."

In the same statement, the European Parliament also condemned the bombing at a night market in Davao City on September 2 that left 15 dead and 70 injured.

He added that news networks were only interested in highlighting his statement "if you destroy my country, I will kill you," which, he said, the EU and the US kept focusing on.

The phrase, as well as his statement that he is willing to risk his "life, honor and presidency" for the drug war, is often repeated in his speeches in military and police camps across the country.

"There's the word 'if.' It's conditional," Duterte said, stating that if the country will not be destroyed, then he will not kill the criminals.

He added that it is not a crime for any president to warn criminals 'not to do it.'