ICC case won’t deter Duterte from pursuing war on drugs

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the Petron-Petron Dealers Association (PETDA) Mindanao Mini Convention at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City on February 24, 2018. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

DAVAO CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said the war on drugs would continue regardless of the complaint filed against him in the International Court of Justice.

“It will not stop the war on drugs. ICC (International Criminal Court) or no ICC it will proceed until the last day of my term,” the President said.

Even the deaths of drug suspects, which have been heavily criticized, would not stop the government’s implementation of its antidrug campaign, he added.

“Just because there are dead persons, we [do not] have to stop our campaign against drugs,” the President said in a speech during the inauguration of a shooting range of the Arms Corp. of the Philippines here.

Next generation

Mr. Duterte said if the government stopped its war on drugs, he would “compromise the next generation.”

“That’s why during our term, we will finish it,” he said, adding that some law enforcers who are into drugs or are protecting the drug trade are compounding the problem.

“What is not really acceptable to me is that some of [those in] law enforcement, the (National Bureau of Investigation) included, are involved in drugs,” he said.

Cleanse the police

Mr. Duterte said he experienced the same problem with the police —the reason he extended the term of Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa so he could cleanse the police force.

The President also criticized human rights advocates for keeping a “blind eye” on the drug menace “that is destroying my country.”

On Saturday, Mr. Duterte told his audience at the Petron Dealers Conference here that he was now facing charges because of his determination to combat the prevalence of drugs in the country. —Allan Nawal