MANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte has retracted his previous declaration that President Marcos is a drug addict.
“I did not say anything like that. Even if you kill me a thousand times, I did not say that,” Duterte said Tuesday night.
“Maybe taking a drug... but if you say addict, I did not say that. Marcos will kill me. Have mercy on me, I am old,” he added.
Duterte said that what he meant was that Marcos was taking antibiotics and aspirin, as those are drugs.
A few weeks ago, Duterte accused Marcos of taking cocaine and even dared the President to undergo a drug test in Rizal Park in Manila.
He also claimed that Marcos was in a narco list shown to him by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Marcos reacted to the claim of Duterte, saying that his statements may be the effect of the fentanyl he has been taking.
Duterte has admitted to taking fentanyl as medicine for the pain caused by a motorcycle accident.
‘Just a tickler’
After facing strong opposition to his plan of starting a movement for a separate and independent Mindanao, Duterte also retracted this statement, saying that it was just a “tickler.”
“It was just a tickler to get the attention of the national government,” Duterte said.
He said his previous statement was a “gentle reminder” for the national government to shape up.
While he admits that it has always been a dream of some Mindanaoans to separate from Luzon and the Visayas, he would not go for it “if it causes a rupture” to the republic.
“I will not go for a forced carving of Mindanao out of the Philippines,” Duterte said.
Mindanao, which is rich in natural resources, has always been lagging behind the rest of the country, prodding the former president to get the attention of the national government.
“Give us a better deal for Mindanao. Mindanao has always been a poor relative vis-a-vis the entire country. Mindanao has always been the lowest in getting public funds for our structure. It is the reason why we are the latest to bloom,” Duterte said.
Duterte also addressed those who want an independent Mindanao to stop with their movement.
“Stop this separate, separate. Don’t take even half a hectare. That is my hometown, do not move it or else we go to war,” Duterte said.
Cha-cha support
Lawmakers from the House of Representatives welcomed Duterte’s support for economic Cha-cha, remarking that it is good for the country’s political climate.
“For the former president to mention that he is for the economic Cha-cha, it is a breath of fresh air to us. And we continue to welcome these kinds of support from all of our influential leaders across the country,” Rep. Cheeno Miguel Almario of Davao Oriental 2nd District said.
“The intention was never vested interest in the first place. It was to really further improve the economical standpoint of the country,” the congressman remarked, highlighting the alignment of political perspectives in Congress and Malacañang.
Rep. Peter Miguel of South Cotabato said he was glad about the latest news on Duterte’s political stance.
“This is a major development. His latest pronouncements give us hope, because he has been against Charter change previously. So, it’s a complete turnaround, and it’s a big deal for us that influential persons will be joining forces,” he stressed.