The country’s drug situation has become “low” and the crime rate has declined in recent months, President Duterte said yesterday, amid his relentless campaign against drugs and criminality.
The President said he intends to “preserve the accomplishments,” particularly in the peace and order front in the remainder of his term, pledging anew to kill those who destroy the nation.
“I have to preserve the accomplishments. The drug situation is quite low and therefore the crime rate, the index crimes, medyo bumaba rin,” he said during a television interview.
“But what is very noticeable is the reduced number of crimes against persons. As for example, robbery on the streets, well, sometimes murder, but it has dropped to about 40 percent,” he added.
Duterte claimed that there were “less drugs” on the streets but the illegal substance were still being smuggled into the country.
“These drugs still come in numbers on both sides from the east and western side – the eastern is the Pacific and the western is the ones facing South China Sea. But I intend to keep it low if not eradicate all. That is one I would like to maintain,” he said.
The former Davao City mayor warned that people involved in drugs, rape, and murder do “not deserve any right to live any longer.”
“I’m not actually interested in killing people except drugs and outright murderers, kidnappers, especially those who well rape children, kill them, or kidnap people and demand ransom and after that still go ahead to kill,” he said.
Duterte said he promised to make the country’s streets safe to people and he is determined to fulfill his vow. “What I promised was if elected President, I would return the right of the citizens to use the streets, alleys, parks, and all without fear,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)