Lowest number of drug users in PH 5 years from now, Duterte vows

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO (FILE)

The number of drug addicts in the Philippines will be at its lowest five years from now, President Rodrigo Duterte has said.

Duterte said his brutal war on illegal drugs would continue until the end of his term.

“I have to stop drugs, really stop. And it will stop,” he said in a speech during a tourism event in Davao City Friday night.

“I will kill you if you destroy my country and you start f****** with my children,” he added.

READ: Duterte war on drugs a success—PDEA

The President has repeatedly said that there were four million drug addicts in the country.

“I assure you, by the time I make my—kung buhay pa ako (if I am still alive)—five years from now, drugs will be at its lowest,” he said.

Eradicating illegal drugs was one of the campaign promises of Duterte. He vowed to stop illegal drugs within the first three to six months of his presidency but failed and later asked for an extension, saying his crackdown on illegal drugs would not stop until the end of his term.

READ: Duterte extends deadly drug war

He said the public should not listen to critics accusing his government of extrajudicial killings.

“Ngayon, kayong mga andiyan nakikinig, sinasabi ninyo na extrajudicial killing. Wala ‘yan (Those of you listening now, you claim this is extrajudicial killing. It is not),” he said.

The interest of the nation, he said, was always on top of his mind.

“I, Rodrigo Duterte, will defend and protect the Filipino nation. Period,” he said. IDL