President Duterte called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines Thursday not to allow illegal drugs to destroy the country.
The Chief Executive remains unfazed by domestic and international criticisms over his war against illegal drugs that has resulted into a surge in the number of suspected drug pushers and users killed since he assumed office.
“Wala kong pakiusap, wala kong hingiin sa inyo. Just take care of your country and be careful about drugs. Do not allow drugs to destroy the next (generation),” the President said during his visit to Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan, home of the First Scout Ranger Regiment.
According to Duterte, whoever would be the next leader – be it President or mayor – they must continue the campaign against the illicit trade.
“Maski sino ma-Presidente, sino ma-mayor dyan, sabihin ninyo, Sir, do not…huwag ninyong sirain ang Filipino,” he said.
He also repeated his message to airmen during the 48th anniversary of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City Wednesday where he said that “the horror that we are facing in the coming days would really be terrorism and drugs.”
“Ang hingiin ko lang sa inyo, kayong mga sundalo ng Pilipinas, kung it will outlast me at nandiyan pa ‘yan, I would just like to ask you a favor. Huwag ninyong hayaan na talagang itong country will take a deep spin…because you will compromise our children and their children, ‘yung mga apo ninyo,” the Commander-in-Chief told the airmen.
He likewise urged them to “restore order and sanity in this country” and not to allow it to fall into a state of narco-politics.
In his speech before Scout Rangers, Duterte said: “When the time comes, if nobody will solve it for one man – the President cannot solve it; Congress cannot solve it; one mayor cannot solve it – wala akong sinasabi sa inyo. Take care of your country. Do not allow our county to take a deadly spin sa droga, otherwise kawawa ang mga anak, pati apo ninyo, sigurado.” (ELENA L. ABEN)