Duterte: Getting entangled in illegal drug trade is like committing suicide

Getting entangled in the illegal drug trade is like committing suicide, President Duterte declared Wednesday in dispelling allegations he was to blame for the drug-related killings in the country.

In his televised address, the President argued that drug suspects know the risks of their actions, as he blasted critics blaming him for their deaths.

The tough-talking leader made clear that his anti-drug policy remains, threatening anew those who destroy the nation with illegal drugs.

"Ang labanan lang ho dito ngayon is ‘yung droga. The policy remains. Wala akong iniiba. Basta ako pagka sinira mo ang Pilipinas, ang bayan ko, papatayin kita. Iyang sa human rights paulit-ulit akong sinasabi at sinasabi ko sa iyo, kayong mga durugista, aabutin talaga kayo ng suwerte ninyo (The fight now is against drugs. The policy remains. I did not change anything. If you destroy the Philippines, my nation, I will kill you. Those human rights groups, I've repeatedly said and I will tell you, the drug offenders, your luck will run out)," he said.

"Hinihingi mo eh. Para kang nag-suicide. If you commit suicide bakit ako ang mademanda? Ngayon kung papasok ka sa droga, gusto mo man mag-suicide (You're asking for it, it's like committing suicide. If you commit suicide, why would you sue me? Now if you get involved in drugs, you want to commit suicide)," he said.

Duterte, who launched a controversial war on drugs at the start of his term, asked why he would be blamed if a drug offender is shot by the police or the military. "Ginusto mo eh. Pumasok ka ng droga, that is suicide. ‘Di ba? Iyan ang simple diyan (You asked for it. You entered into drug trade, that is suicide. Right? It's that simple)," he said.

Duterte also cautioned against becoming inutile in the fight against illegal drugs if cases are filed against him and government forces.

"Ngayon kung gusto mong mag-suicide, huwag mong idemanda ‘yung pulis, idemanda mo ‘yung military, idemanda mo ako sa… Anong klase iyan? Paano ang pagka-Presidente ko? Maging inutil ako (Now if you want to commit suicide, do not file charges against the police, the military and me. What kind is that? How will become of my presidency? I will become inutile)," 

"Kasi ang droga everyday, for God’s sake, everyday may droga araw-araw nahuhuli umaabot ng million. Million per million ‘yan everyday (Because there are still drugs everyday for God's sake. Everyday there are drugs worth millions seized. Million per million everyday)," he said.

Duterte also remained unfazed by criticism from rights advocates about his war on drugs. He recognized the gravity of the drug problem, saying it has resulted in the country's "malaise." 

"‘Yan ang mensahe ko. At huwag mo akong takot-takutin iyang human rights diyan. Hindi ako natatakot diyan. Useless ‘yan (That's my message. Do not try to scare me, those human rights groups. I am not afraid of that. That's useless)," he said. 

The government initiated an aggressive campaign against illegal drugs that left thousands of drug suspects dead since 2016.

Rights advocates here and abroad have deplored the alleged extrajudicial killings and other alleged abuses links to the government's drug war. 

Some groups have called for independent inquiry into the drug-related killings but the President remained unperturbed by the criticisms.

When he spoke before the United Nations General Assembly last month, Duterte defended his anti-drug campaign from criticisms from human rights advocates.

He said some interest groups have weaponized human rights to discredit his government. 

Duterte said the country would continue to protect the human rights of its people, especially from the scourge of illegal drugs, criminality, and terrorism.

He said he was open to  “constructive engagement” with the United Nations but only if there is “objectivity, noninterference, non-selectivity, and genuine dialogue."