Duterte: ‘I won’t do a Marcos’

President Rodrigo Duterte.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

“I won’t do a Marcos.”

Amid his intensified crackdown on illegal drugs, President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he won’t declare martial law.

“Wala akong balak maging diktador. Abogado ako. Sabihin nila (I have no plans to become a dictator. I’m a lawyer. They say [I’m like]) Marcos, far from it. I am just doing my duty as President or else I will compromise,” Duterte said in a speech at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) as he welcomed repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Saudi Arabia.

READ: Palace: Duterte to make changes without declaring martial law

The President issued the statement amid the spate of drug-related killings under his administration.

He admitted that he was hurt seeing the dead bodies of his citizens.

“We do not enjoy killing people. I do not enjoy this war. I hate to sign documents that would procure things that would just kill citizens,” he said.

“Hindi ito ang larong gusto ko. Maghanap ako ng, gusto ko ng ibang kalaban. Huwag yung Pilipino,” he added.

(This is not the game I want to play. I want other rivals, not Filipinos.)

The chief executive reiterated his campaign promise of eradicating illegal drugs in the country within six months.

“In six months, I promise the reform. Ang pinakamatinding away ko nito ay droga. Marami ang patay (My greatest war is that against drugs. Many have already died), ” he said.

“Avoid drugs at all costs because it could cost your life, too,” he added, citing the drug problem in the country has turned into a crisis.

The chief executive has repeatedly said that his war against drugs would be unrelenting, issuing a shoot-to-kill order to police for resisting criminals. CDG

READ: Duterte: I’m responsible for war vs drugs