MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants to kill three or five drug lords before he steps down from office in June.
Duterte, known for his administration’s bloody war against drugs, reiterated that his successor should continue the program.
“Siguro bago ako mag-alis makatapos lang tayo ng mga tatlo o limang drug lords. Gusto ko patayin. Ayoko ng buhay,” he said during his taped address to the nation aired Thursday.
(Before I leave, let’s finish three or five drug lords. I want to kill them. I do not want them alive.)
He urged government workers to fight those involved in illegal drugs.
“We, I would tell my co-workers in government, we have to gamble. We have to fight them at kung mag-fight man tayo, patayin na lang ninyo (and when we fight, just kill them),” said Duterte.
Duterte likewise said that he will not apologize for the drug crackdown, saying “it has to be a war.”
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency data showed that as of February 28, a total of 6,235 individuals have been killed in the war against illegal drugs.