Duterte: Drug problem back, growing bigger

MANILA, Philippines —  The country’s problem with illegal drugs is back and “growing bigger and bigger,” former president Rodrigo Duterte said yesterday as he called on President Marcos to eradicate the scourge.

“It is coming back, Mr. President. You have the power to eradicate it totally and make the problem less than what it is now,” he said.

“You can easily do it, Mr. President, if you really want to because all the powers needed are with you,” Duterte added.

When he ran for president in 2016, Duterte promised to eradicate the illegal drug trade and corruption in the country in three to six months.

Duterte expressed confidence that Marcos “can act on it on time,” warning that if he is unable to do so, “the military will take the matter… I am sure because they are Filipinos also.”

The former president insisted that it is important for the government to deal with the illegal drug problem.

“Justice becomes an illusion if drugs become so widespread as to corrupt the nation and would put this state on bended knees,” he warned.

Duterte, whose drug war has led to an investigation by the International Criminal Court over alleged extrajudicial killings, again called for the death of drug pushers.

“These drug pushers, manufacturers and importers do not deserve justice but death,” he said.