ni ROSE NOVENARIO
HINDI hihingi ng paumanhin si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa mga napinsala ng madugong drug war ng kanyang administrasyon at nagbabala na magtutumba ng tatlo hanggang lima pang drug lord bago bumaba sa puwesto.
Inulit niya ang kanyang paalala sa mga opisyal ng gobyerno na huwag sumawsaw sa illegal drugs trade dahil nakasisira ito ng pamilya at bansa.
“It has to be a war. It’s not just a special operation of the police and military. It cannot be because this is — this thing is a very sinister and virulent activity that would affect the life of a nation. This is difficult. You know it,” aniya sa kanyang Talk to the People kamakalawa ng gabi.
“I would say and I would insist, during the tail end of my administration, that I did the right thing. I won’t back down. No apologies… For me, I did the right thing,” dagdag niya.
Nahaharap si Duterte sa kasong “crimes against humanity of murder” sa International Criminal Court bunsod ng kanyang madugong drug war na kumitil sa libo-libong katao.
Upang makaiwas sa paglilitis ng ICC ay inalis ni Duterte ang Filipinas bilang signatory sa Rome Statute na lumikha sa ICC.
“Siguro bago ako mag-alis, matatapos — makatapos lang tayo ng mga — mga tatlo o limang drug lords. Gusto ko patay, ayaw ko ng buhay. Gusto kong makita ang mga drug lords, lumaban kayo ‘pag dumating na ang pulis, sa ano,” sabi ni Duterte.
“I would tell them, my co-workers in government, we have to gamble, we have to fight them. If we figure in a clash, just kill them,” giit niya.
Nangako siya sa mga pulis at militar na pagbaba sa puwesto ay magsisilbi siyang abogado upang ipagtanggol sila kapag may asuntong isinampa laban sa kanila kaugnay sa kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga.
“To the police and military, this is my guarantee to you. Listen to me… if I am no longer the president but you face charges for doing your duty, do not be afraid. If you cannot get a lawyer, I will go to the court for you…I will be there to protect you,” aniya.
“I am not asking for understanding. I might be very clear on this, I am talking and I am not seeking your understanding. I said I take full responsibility for what is happening in the war on drugs. As long as they, the enforcement people, do it in accordance with the law.”
Umaasa si Duterte na itutuloy ng susunod na administrasyon ang kanyang drug war at kung maaari ay mas matindi pa sa kanyang ipinatupad upang umano’y mas maging epektibo.
“I hope that I said the next administration would be, maybe (exert) a stronger pressure (against drug syndicates) compared to what I did. It would be better. The drugs keep on coming back.”