Duterte on war on drugs: give me another six months
President Duterte asked for a six-month extension for the eradication of drugs and criminality in the country during a press conference in Davao City on Sunday evening.
“I did not realize how severe and how serious the problem of drugs in this republic until I became president,” Duterte said.
Initially, he promised to eradicate drugs in three to six months after his inauguration, but he said that he cannot kill all of them even if he wanted to.
“I cannot tell you now but we are trying our very best to put order in this country,” Duterte added.
The president said one of his measures to fight drugs is to join in the postponement of the barangay elections. He explained that during elections, barangay captains can use the drug money for their own campaign.
He also mentioned that there are other problems in the Philippines like terrorism, drugs, and kidnapping, saying that terrorism is the “next great battle of the world” and it can happen anywhere.
Duterte also presented the Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad who was freed by the Abu Sayyaf Saturday afternoon along with the three other Indonesian victims who were released earlier.
Sekkingstad was taken hostage September last year in Samal Island with two Canadians and a Filipina.
“I am happy to be alive and free”, Sekkingstad said. He thanked the Philippine government and the government of Norway for securing his release.
President Duterte said that the release of Sekkingstad was from the efforts of Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, Nur Misuari, and Sakur Tan, the former governor of Sulu.###
