Duterte repeats: Say no to drugs

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte reiterated last night his administration’s thrust in the campaign against illegal drugs when he led the inauguration of the drug rehabilitation center in Las Piñas.

“Let me repeat it again for all. Do not go into drugs because if you do that, I will kill you. If you destroy our children and then I will just have to kill you,” Duterte said in a speech at the unveiling of the marker of the newly opened Mella Hotel owned by the Villar Group.

Prior to this, Duterte led the opening of a two-story building with 86-patient capacity for female occupants with another 158 intended for male patients in Barangay Daniel Fajardo.

“I do not have to take anything back, I will say it with more clarity: do not f*** with me,” he said.

Duterte added: “Even if it would cost my freedom, I will go to prison.” 

Despite the strong criticisms over extrajudicial killings, Duterte said there is no need to apologize for his actions to fight the drug menace.

“I do not apologize for it. I offer no explanation for it,” he added, saying the anti-drug campaign is his way of saving the nation from the adverse impact of drug abuse.

“I love my country and I will see to it that my country survives,” Duterte added.

Duterte called on critics to advise drug users to stop their illegal activities or risk being killed.

“If you want these killings stopped, if you want EJKs to stop, just drop it and it will stop tomorrow,” he said.

“Do not spoil the day for the Filipino para wala tayong gulo,” Duterte said. “You say I am a killer, yes – for my country. For gain, personal, it’s too late to start.”

Built by the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Government (Villar-SIPAG) foundation led by Vistaland chairman and former Senate president Manny Villar, the rehab facility has isolation rooms, doctors’ room and laboratory room. It also has multi-purpose rooms that can be used for seminars.

Villar and his wife Sen. Cynthia Villar, along with their children, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Paolo and Camille, joined the President along with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año in unveiling the marker at the drug rehabilitation center.

Duterte expressed his admiration for the efforts of Villar, whose rags-to-riches story inspires many, including the President.

He said the people should emulate Villar for his “sipag at tiyaga” principle of life.

At one point during his speech, Duterte said he should have used the “sipag at tiyaga” slogan in his campaign but his public relations team used “DDS,” which became an infamous monicker for “Davao Death Squad.” 

In a separate video message, Duterte also greeted Villar a happy birthday, wishing him 1,000 more: “You are a good man, respetado at ako ay sumasaludo sa inyo. Idol kita. HBD sana mabuhay ka in the next 1000 years, kailangan ka ng kapwa mo tao.” 

Duterte and Villar’s relations date back to the 11th Congress when Villar was speaker of the House of Representatives and the incumbent President was then a congressman.