Duterte bares involvement of Customs in illegal importation of drugs

President Duterte makes a hand gesture during his final Sona.

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday admitted he did not know he would fight his own government in his war against drugs, disclosing that the Bureau of Customs was involved in importing illegal drugs to the country.

“We are fighting a drug war that was being participated in the business by nine generals of the PNP. Yan ang masakit sa loob ko,” Duterte said in his final State of the Nation Address (Sona).

“I did not know that I was fighting my own government. Customs and everyone else was facilitating the importation of drugs,” he added.

Duterte said “almost a billion” worth of drugs are seized by the police while “about a thousand” Filipinos are arrested due to illegal drugs every day.

“And that is why I go crazy looking at the situation. They are still around. We do not have the laboratories now because nawala na sila at itong naiwan ngayon are doing the importation,” Duterte said.

It was not the first time for Duterte to admit having a hard time ending the problem of illegal drugs.

READ: Duterte admits drug problem won’t end under his watch 

Even so, Malacañang has touted the drug war as “successful” and even expressed optimism that the drug-free Philippines is still possible before the President’s term ends in 2022.

READ: Palace touts drug war as ‘successful,’ optimistic drug-free PH still possible

But the drug war that catapulted Duterte to the presidency in 2016 also brought the Chief Executive before the International Criminal Court for allegedly committing crimes against humanity.

READ: ICC prosecutor asks for judicial authority to probe case filed vs Duterte

However, Duterte himself repeatedly said his government would never cooperate with the ICC probe.

READ: Not waging a drug war will ‘destroy’ PH, says Duterte as possible ICC probe looms

edv