President Rodrigo Duterte issues warning to drug dealers. KARLOS MANLUPIG/INQUIRER MINDANAO
MANILA, Philippines — If drug dealers can do evil things, President Rodrigo Duterte says he, too, can do so and even go “down to hell” to meet them.
“You drug people, kayong nakikinig ngayon na nasa negosyo ng drugs, you’re doing an evil thing and you think that you can conquer good. ’Pag yan ang nasa paradigm ng isip niyo, mindset ninyo, sabihin ko ito sa inyo, you are doing evil and if possible, I also do evil. Evil to evil tayo,” Duterte said in an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy aired Tuesday.
(You drug people, those who are in the business of srugs, you’re doing an evil thing and you think that you can conquer good. If that’s the paradigm in your mind, your mindset, you are doing evil and if possible, I also do evil. We’ll be evil to evil.)
“Do not ever, ever think that you are the only one who can do evil things. Kasi ako, marunong din akong bumaba ng impyerno to meet you. Kung anong kaya mong gawin, kaya ko rin talaga. Gagawin ko,” he went on.
(Do not ever, ever think you are the only one who can do evil things. Because I can go down to hell to meet you. What you can do, I can also do. And I will do it.)
The President, whose war against drugs has been heavily criticized, said “nothing will happen” if one fights evil with good.
“You destroy my country, I will have to tell you that you bring out the worst in me, the violent side of my persona,” Duterte said, addressing drug dealers. “Do not ever, ever think that you monopolize evil on this planet.”
Even as he warned drug dealers, the President also claimed that drug use has decreased in the country.
“We have seen a lessening of the drugs in the Philippines. Sa Davao wala na, tingi-tingi, but sa ibang lugar, meron sa Manila but they are almost paralyzed because we have better intelligence now and it’s working,” Duterte said.
(We have seen a lessening of the drugs in the Philippines. In Davao, there’s a little bit, in Manila there’s still drugs, but they are almost paralyzed because we have better intelligence now and it’s working.)
Ending the drug trade was among the campaign promises of Duterte when he ran in 2016. The President admittedly said he did not know he would be fighting the government itself to address this issue.
“Sabi ko I will end the problem of drugs in Manila or in the Philippines. I did not know that about six police generals were into drugs, either sila mismo or protecting the drug people. I did not know I was fighting my own government, I was fighting corruption sa customs at kung saan saan,” he said.
(As I have said, I will end the drug problem in Manila and throughout the Philippines. I did not know that about six police generals were into drugs, either directly or indirectly. I did not know I was fighting my own administration; I was fighting corruption at customs and elsewhere.)