Duterte asks for another year to annihilate drug problem in PH

President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo by KING RODRIGUEZ / Presidential Photographers Division)

President Rodrigo Duterte appealed to the public on Wednesday to give him another year to finish the country’s drug problem.

“Basta ang sabi ko sa droga (Just what I’ve said in drugs) I hope to finish the problem, give me just another year. Babalik ang pulis (The police will return),” Duterte said in a speech before the mass oath-taking of newly-appointed government officials in Malacañang.

Duterte decisively won the presidency with a promise to eradicate the drug menace within his first three to six months in office. He later admitted he was wrong with the deadline, given the involvement of some generals, police and other government officials in the illegal drug trade.

READ: Duterte extends deadly drug war

He has also ordered the return of the Philippine National Police in the anti-illegal drug campaign to help the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, which took over the sole responsibility in October following accusations of human rights abuses committed during police operations. /jpv