Unapologetic for his controversial war on drugs, President Duterte on Thursday bared that he has thrown drug lords in Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay as well as down a steep ravine in Mountain Province.
At the awarding ceremony of child-friendly places in Malacañang, the President explained that he previously did not “advertise” the dumping of drug offenders in these places as he deplored those who destroy the nation. Duterte made the admission to fend off criticisms that no big fishes were caught in his bloody anti-drug campaign.
“Sabi nila o, itong mga idiotong mga kolumnista, wala daw nakuha na…Hindi lang ninyo alam. Baka hindi niyo alam ilan tinapon ko diyan sa Manila Bay. Mga y*** kayo. Baka gusto ninyo pati kayo,” he said in his remarks. “Naga-announce ba kami na ‘yang drug lord si ano tinapon ko sa ano – Laguna de Bay? ‘Yung isa hinulog ko doon sa Mountain Province doon sa ravine? Do I have to advertise that? Ulol pala kayo eh,” he added.
Duterte, however, denied that the authorities were behind “wholesale” killing of drug offenders. He said a daily report on the anti-drug campaign showed that suspects were either arrested or neutralized.
“May nakita ba kayo na wholesale pinatay lima, anim? It’s one or two if they decide to fight it out with the law enforcement,” he said.
The President insisted that he would not apologize for his drug war despite human rights concerns from some groups.
Instead, Duterte renewed his vow to kill those who will destroy the country with the illegal drugs.
“I am not apologizing for anything,” he said.
“I’ve been very emphatic. You destroy my country, I will kill you. You destroy my city, I will kill you. What does that mean? How do you destroy a city? You destroy people,” he said.
Duterte admitted that he was “extra cruel” in dealing with drug offenders because he does not want the country to become a nation of addicts or “zombies” waiting to get their next fix. “I never made any pretensions. I never made any lies,” he said.
He also dismissed human rights groups who were more concerned about the welfare of drug offenders than their victims.
“Hindi ko maintindihan ang buhay. That’s what I do not… ‘Yung disparity between the importance of the criminals and the attention given to the victims,” he said.
He said illegal drugs have destroyed many families, causing “a social dysfunction of the majority of our countrymen.”
“You just don’t know how many of those drug addicts are roaming everywhere. And you know when the brain is destroyed, they are just like zombies. They just sit in the house and stare,” he said.
Duterte said he would take full responsibility for the drug war, adding that he was ready to face death. (Genalyn Kabiling)
