He’s tough on illegal drugs, but there is no way that he will be another Ferdinand Marcos, President Duterte said on Wednesday.
According to Mr. Duterte, he has no intention of becoming a dictator as he attempts to eradicate the illegal drug scourge in the country.
Speaking before repatriated overseas Filipino workers about his administration’s war on drugs, Mr. Duterte asked for their help.
“I have no plan of becoming a dictator. I am a lawyer. My mother is a Yellow Friday leader in Davao. They will say … he will do a Marcos. Far from it. I am just doing my duty,” he said.
If he does not pursue his plan, the next generation will be “compromised,” he said.
“You know who that is? Your children. Even your grandchildren. Then we will have a failed country,” he said.
There are those who believe this will not happen, but he said he would not risk dealing with the problem, in case it worsened.
“What if it happens? What will we do with the Philippines?” he added.
If he fails to act now, nobody else can stop the problem, Mr. Duterte said.
He said he was not afraid to be jailed as a result of his fight against illegal drugs.
Mr. Duterte also called on the returning Filipino workers to steer clear of illegal drugs.
“Avoid drugs at all cost because it could cost your life, too,” he said.
He said more than 3 million Filipinos were affected by illegal drugs, and it was a “crisis for the country.”