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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Friday, December 23, 2016
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MANILA – No more drug suspect will get killed if people stop using illegal drugs, stressed President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a speech in Malacañang on Thursday, Duterte said he wants the killings to stop, but the huge number of drug users and peddlers in the country is making it impossible.
“Itong sa drugs, may I suggest a way of action?” he said. “Gusto ninyong hintuin ang patayan? Hinto kayo sa drugs at mahihinto rin ang patayan. Kung gusto ninyo mamatay, pumasok kayo sa droga. Iyon lang.”
He added: “Hintuin lang ninyo ang droga, kayong nagluluto ng droga, putang ina, maghinto kayo. ’Pag inabot kayo ng pulis, magbabarilan na naman kayo. Magagalit na naman ang mga tao.”
Duterte lamented that stopping the killings now is impossible, especially that the suspects include mayors, governors, congressmen, and judges.
“We have been corrupted, and this is why I cry every night. This is the drug industry,” he said while showing a stash of papers allegedly containing names of drug personalities. “This is my problem, and it will take my life or my entire term to solve.”
He added: “The republic will remain to be a republic, and I will protect it for the love of my fellowmen. I will protect the innocent lives by stopping the illegal drug trade.”
The President has drawn criticism over the spate of killings resulting from the administration’s aggressive crackdown on drugs.
One of the critics was United Nations Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard, who called out the President for endorsing the killing of drug suspects. She described the latter’s statements as “license to kill.”/PN
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