Duterte says ICC case will not stop drug war

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the inauguration of the Armscor Shooting Range Davao Branch in Davao City on February 26, 2018, declares that there will be no letup in his war on drugs. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

The President re-emphasized his goal of a drugless country, saying that not even the complaint filed by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him would stop his campaign to eradicate illegal drugs.

“It will not stop the war against drugs ICC or no ICC it will proceed and it would last until the last day of my term,” President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said on February 26, during the inauguration of the Armscor Shooting Range Davao branch.

However, contrary to his winning platform, his aim of a total zero on drugs in the country is now “impossible” according to him.

“So dito sa panahon natin, tapusin na lang natin ‘to (in this time, let us just finish it). So I have three more years plus. And maybe at the end of my term, we would have – not really get rid of everything because that’s impossible but bring it to the barest minimum,” he added.

The Chief Executive then cited the 154 days of Marawi siege as an example of how illegal drugs affect a country.

“Marawi’s war was precipitated by the service of a warrant sa isang tao doon (of one person there) who was accused of drugs. And nung pagpunta ng mga pulis (when the police came), they were met with a heavy gunfire, armor and so they had to retreat and called the Armed Forces in and that was the first casualty,” he narrated.

“Just because there are dead persons, we [do not] have to stop our campaign against drugs,” Duterte continued in his speech.

He then said that if he chooses to end his war, it will “compromise” the next generation.

“‘Yan ang makasama (That is what will make things worse). Mabuti’t dito, kaya man kaya natin, eh ‘di kayahin natin (It is good that here we can do it, we have to make it happen) because we’d never know what kind of weaving the societal fabric after our generation. Hindi natin alam ‘yung tahi eh (We do not know the weave). So we might come up with a strong nation for our children and our grandchildren which are in front of us now o[r] ma-compromise talaga ang Pilipinas (the Philippines will be compromised),” the President said.

However, on a different topic, Duterte also ended his speech by reiterating his previous statements that he would step down when “his time comes” and that he is only doing things

“Wala man akong ambisyon (I do not have any ambition) except to serve my country, make it a good place for all of us, comfortable, and when my time comes, I will go. No problem. No ambition to stay any bit longer,” he stated.