DAVAO CITY — President Duterte on Monday said he would defy congressional investigations and sanctions from the United Nations in order to keep his promise to make the country drug-free.
The President made this statement a day after he asked for an extension of his self-imposed deadline for his war on crime and illegal narcotics.
Speaking to the victims of the Davao blast, Duterte said he would stick to his own agenda to stop crime and illegal drugs despite local and international indignation of his administration’s bloody anti-crime drive.
“I will suppress criminality. Whether there will be thousands of investigations o magpuntahan man sina Ban Ki-moon dito. I really don’t give a shit because I have promise to the people of the Philippines who elected me President,” he said.
On Sunday, the President asked for an extended deadline.
“That self-imposed time of three to six months, well, I did not realize how severe and how serious the problem of the drug menace in this Republic until I became President,” he said.
In his speech here, Duterte said he was determined to “exterminate” the last pusher on the street.
“I will not [stop] until the last pusher on the streets is fully exterminated. Patayin ko talaga yung mga drug lords. Make no bones about it,” he said.
He said he would not be cowed by various investigations meant to discredit his crackdown on illegal drugs.
“[The war on] drugs it will continue, I don’t care if there is a thousand hearings everywhere. Maka-focus lang ako doon sa problema,” he said.
He said he was focus on his agenda, adding that Congress has its own plan.
“Congress, bahala sila magka-gulo dun, I will stick to my own agenda. Congress they have their own show. Go ahead, be my guest,” he said.