President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, February 24, led the turnover of the rehabilitation facility for drug reformists in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS), Davao del Norte.
The community-based drug rehabilitation facility was donated by the Bangayan Family and Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., represented by its President, Mr. Angel Ngu.
In his speech, Duterte thanked the Filipino-Chinese community for responding to his administration’s fight against illegal drugs.
“Let us rejoice that there are still people who look our way in the light of what we have done and for helping us out, trying to rehabilitate our countrymen,” the President said.
Duterte noted that it was also a Chinese philanthropist, Mr. Huang Rulun, who donated a drug rehabilitation facility that would house 10,000 drug addicts. The said facility was built inside Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.
The President, meanwhile, lamented the involvement of government officials and policemen in illegal drugs. He noted that 40 percent of the barangay captains in the country are into drugs.
He added that there are 6,000 policemen and 32 municipal mayors involved in illegal drugs.
Duterte likewise noted that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) face difficulties abroad to make money for their children but the children just waste it on illegal drugs.
The President called on the drug pushers not to use human rights and due process as an excuse.
“I protect the Filipino people, not pushers,” he said.
In the same speech, President Duterte assured China that his administration is committed to pursue strong bilateral relations with China.
“We will talk as friends, we cannot go to war because we cannot afford it and that as much as possible, the bilateral relations between the two countries would be enhanced and improved and trade and commerce between the two countries greatly improved,” Duterte said.
“I will not deviate from my word of honor. Importante ‘yan sa akin eh. Na sa panahon ko, there will be a time, sa aking pagka-presidente that I will raise the issue of the arbitral judgment with China, but not now,” he added. ###PND
