President Rodrigo Duterte in his Talk to the People address.
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — President Rodrigo Duterte “unburdened” himself before former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on his being made a “punching bag” by human rights group in relation to his war against illegal drugs.
Duterte said he considered it “pinakamasakit” (most painful) that illegal drugs have destroyed families especially those with parents who are working overseas.
Addressing Arroyo as “presidente” (president) and “ma’am” in a program held after he inspected the hospital for overseas Filipino workers in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Duterte said it was enough to have one addicted child or a father to make the family “dysfunctional.”
He said he promised to solve the problem in six months and had dealt with corrupt police and Customs officials.
“Human rights (advocates) only see the killings. They don’t see the sufferings of families especially women who leave for work abroad but are raped and abused,” he said in Filipino.
Duterte also vowed to continue with his campaign against illegal drugs even after his term as President ends.