NEGROS OCCIDENTAL — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Friday, March 8, firmly stated that he would not legalize medical Marijuana in the Philippines as drug traders can use this measure as an excuse to continue their illegal businesses.
At the campaign rally of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Victorias City, he said that considering Marijuana as medicinal drugs equate to condoning wrongdoings.
“You must remember that heroin, cocaine, and the derivatives are products of opium poppy plant. So matagal masyado magtama if at all talagang mabuang. Plant ‘yan eh. Marijuana. They are cultivated,” the President narrated.
“Sabihin medicinal. Lahat na lang mag-medicinal na. That would be an excuse. Hindi ako pumayag. Not in my time. Not in my time. Maybe some other…some other president maybe,” he continued.
“I am ignorant of that kind of research, I must admit. And I do not read it and I do not intend to legalize it. Ayaw ko. Gawain mo lang excuse ‘yan eh. Magtatanim ka ng iyo. Sabihin mo, ‘Medicinal man kaya ‘to,” he said.
Moreover, in his remarks, the President renewed his commitment to fight corruption in the government.
“Corruption. Wala akong pasensya. And we will continue to purge government. Walang sagrado dito sa akin. Ni anak ko, ni kaibigan ko. Basta nandyan ka, nandyan ka. Pasensya ka, period,” President Duterte said.
The President encouraged the people to resist and fight corruption in whatever branch of government, be it in the police forces or agencies.
He then cited that the public can ventilate their grievances and concerns using the 8888 hotline, especially graft and red tape in the bureaucracy.
“If you are a victim of corruption, ang style diyan, ‘yan. Pabalik ka lang. Pabalik, pabalik ka nang pabalik. ‘Yan. Pagkaganun, tawagin ko ‘yung tao. Sabihin ko sa iyo sampalin mo sa harap ko. Ganun ang style ko,” he said.
“Kasi ‘pag ganun mo, ayaw bitawan, ibig sabihin, naghihingi ng pera ‘yan. Kaya ka pabalik nang pabalik-balik. Nagwa-warning ako maski sino. I will fire you. I will just file a case against you for dismissal sa. I-report mo lang sa akin,” he added.
In his message to the people of Negros Occidental, he also made an appeal to support the candidates of PDP-Laban, as well as its guest candidates in the upcoming midterm election. ###PND
