SONA 2021: Duterte taunts ICC, touts war on drugs

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte stuck to his war on drugs and crushing communist rebellion narratives to highlight his final State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 26, 2021.

Instead of a one-hour speech promised by Malacañang, the SONA lasted for almost three hours because of Duterte’s ad libs, mostly on his war against illegal drugs and the communist rebels.

The most controversial statement he made was against the International Criminal Court (ICC) which is probing him for alleged crimes against humanity in waging the war on drugs.

Duterte taunted the ICC to record his warning against drug peddlers.

“I never denied – and the ICC can record it – those who destroy my country, I will kill you. And those who destroy the young people of my country, I will kill you, because I love my country,” Duterte said.

The President said he cannot stand that Filipino families are torn apart by the illegal drug problem.

“I am a Filipino and I love my country. I do not want my country in disarray because of drugs. I do not want families to break up and become dysfunctional. Yun ang masakit sa akin. Itong peddlers they look for families na may mga nanay at tatay nagtatrabaho sa abroad. To think na iniiwan nila ang mga anak nila sa kung saan-saan na lang, to their neighbors, at the tender age of 3-5, it breaks your heart.”

Duterte said families of overseas workers are the victims of drug syndicates.

“Masakit sa akin na ang Pilipino pumunta doon para magtrabaho because sexual abuse in some tribes in the Middle East have this notion that if you’re a slave or paid person working for them, sexual abuse becomes part of territory. When they come back years after, they now realize that their young sons and daughters have gone into prostitution because of drugs,” he added.

Duterte also admitted in his SONA there would be killings in the war on drugs as it would take months and years to accomplish something if the legal way is followed.

He added that his campaign against illegal drugs brought peace and stability to the Filipinos.

“Our unyielding campaign led to the surrender of millions of drug dependents and neutralization, capture, and prosecution of thousands of drug personalities,” he said.

 

‘FIGHTING MY OWN GOVERNMENT’

Pres. Duterte said he did not know that he was fighting his own government when he waged war against illegal drugs.

“We are fighting a drug war that is being participated by nine generals of the PNP. I did not know I was fighting my own government.”

Citing his experience in Davao City, he also admitted to bribing or intimidating those involved in illegal drugs to leave Davao and go to Luzon instead.

“When I first said I would fight drugs in six months, I thought it was like in Davao – you can either coerce, intimidate or bribe them. We were able to attain a sense of normalcy in the city.”

Despite thousands being arrested for drugs, the problem is still around.

“There are about 1,000 Filipinos arrested everyday in connection with drug trafficking. That is why I go crazy looking at the situation. They are still around. There are still around, we do not have the laboratories because nawala na sila. But itong mga naiwan ngayon are doing the importation. Citizens of the other country cook their shabu in the tug boat or something,” Duterte said.

 

‘KINDLY SHOOT THEM DEAD’

Duterte also ordered cops to continue killing suspected drug users and dealers despite facing a probe by the ICC.

“My orders to you: If you see them walking around, kindly shoot them dead, and I will be happy. Anyway, you’re only charged in the ICC together with me, so what is the problem of adding another one, another idiot Filipino who has caused great damage to our country?” he said.

Duterte also lauded the military, especially the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which has been accused of red-tagging or labeling certain persons and groups as rebels or rebel sympathizers.

“With the creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), we have made great strides in addressing the root causes of this conflict. We have worked towards the sustainable rehabilitation of communities where communists used to operate,” he said.

 

BENEFITS FOR AFP, PNP

Pres. Duterte also cited the modernization and capability enhancement of the military and the police.

“I made it a priority to strengthen the institution, boost morale of men and women of PNP, AFP and other armed services. I thank the Congress for working with the executive department in enhancing the capabilities of the AFP and PNP through the modernization program. In 2018, we raised the salaries of our military and uniformed policemen and personnel to a level commensurate to the critical the role they play in upholding national security and maintaining order.”

Duterte also said it is “high time for us to pass a law providing free legal assistance to AFP and PNP officers and enlisted personnel to help from charges arising from incidents related to performance of official duty.”

“The continuous upgrading of our defense capability shall ensure we uphold our territorial integrity, sovereignty from external and security threats. We do not only strengthen our military, police institutions; we also inspire them to serve the nation with the highest degree of loyalty and patriotism. I am proud of the accomplishments of our troops in securing our nation against all threats to our democratic institution.”