Manila - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday vowed
that his campaign against illegal drugs will not ease despite
mounting criticism over the rising death toll.
In his annual state of the nation address before Congress, the
72-year-old president said the illegal drug campaign was part of
efforts to ensure peace and order in the country to encourage
investment.
"That is why I have resolved that no matter how long it takes, the
fight against illegal drugs will continue because that is the root
cause of so much evil and so much suffering that weakens the social
fabric and deters foreign investments from pouring in," he said.
"Despite international and local pressures, the fight will not
stop until those who deal in it understand that they have to cease,
they have to stop because the alternatives are either jail or hell,"
he added.
More than 3 000 suspects have been killed in anti-drug operations
since Duterte became president on June 30, 2016, according to police
statistics. But human rights groups warned that the actual death toll
could be higher.
Duterte said he would not "loosen the leash" on the fight against
illegal drugs, even after opposition lawmakers filed a case against
him in the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against
humanity in the drug war.
Duterte again called on lawmakers to reinstate the death penalty in
the Philippines, not just as deterrence but as "retribution" for
heinous crimes, especially illegal drug trafficking.
"In the Philippines, it is really an eye for an eye, a tooth for a
tooth. You took a life, you must pay it to die. That is the only way
to get even," he said.
Tens of thousands of leftist activists protested outside the Congress
compound amid tight security, denouncing Duterte's aggressive
campaign against illegal drugs and martial law in the troubled
southern region of Mindanao.
They carried placards and banners that read "Stop the killings!" and
"No to martial law!"
Last year, leftist activists also marched during Duterte's speech
before Congress, but the demonstration was aimed at expressing
support for the 72-year-old president.
"One year has passed and many promises were not fulfilled," said
Renato Reyes, seretary general of Bayan Muna, one of the groups in
the protest.
"The situation was aggravated by the extension of martial law [in
Mindanao' for another five months," he added. "The country is facing
a lot of problems, that's why we are protesting this time."
After his speech, Duterte faced off with the protesters and told them
amid jeers: "Don't be in a hurry. I will deliver. If you rush me, we
won't be able to achieve anything."
Some protesters chanted over Duterte, demanding the continuation of
peace talks with communist rebels, which the president scrapped after
a series of attacks left 10 people dead last week.
"No more talks," he declared at a press conference later, vowing to
prepare the armed forces for war by recruiting at least 20 000 more
soldiers and purchasing new equipment.
In his speech before Congress, Duterte also said he wants to put a
stop to the export of mineral resources extracted from the country
and instead have these commodities processed locally.
He warned mining companies that if they do not spend to clean up,
rehabilitate and restore all areas damaged by their activities, "I
will tax you to death."