Duterte on drug war: ‘Who benefited? You, Filipinos!’

Published August 3, 2021, 12:13 AM

by Raymund Antonio

President Duterte once more defended law enforcement agencies on the killing of drug suspects against human rights advocates, claiming that Filipinos are the ones benefiting from such operations.

President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his regular address to the nation on August 2, 2021. (PCOO Screenshot)

During his pre-recorded public address aired late Monday night, the Chief Executive commended the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Philippine Army, and the intelligence community.

“Ipalagay na natin totoo ‘yang sinabi, ipagpalagay na natin totoo ‘yang sinabi ng human rights, p***** i** sinong nakinabang diyan? Ako? Ako ang nakinabang? Pamilya ko? Nakinabang sila diyan sa p***** i**** mga patay na ‘yan? Sino? Sinong nakinabang? Kayo, ang anak ninyo, ang bayan natin ang nakinabang (Let’s say it’s true what the human rights are saying, fuck it who benefited from it? Me? I benefited, my family? Did they benefit from that fucking dead person? Who benefited? You! Your children, our nation benefited),” Duterte said.

He was talking about Chinese national Wu Zishen who was killed in a police encounter on Monday, August 2, in Barangay Santol in Balagtas town in Bulacan where PDEA agents seized 75 kilograms of suspected crystal meth with a market price of P510 million.

According to a presentation by the Chief Executive, there were also a black cellphone, blue cellphone, two identification cards, one P1,000 bill, and one .45-caliber pistol.

READ: Duterte admits drug war has ‘long way to go’

The President ranted that it’s his family who will suffer the consequences of the anti-drug war.

“Sino nalagay sa alanganin? Ako, pamilya ko, ‘yung buhay nila, gaganti ‘yang mga y*** na ‘yan. Eh hindi naman ako milyonaryo na may isa akong squad diyan sa likod nagbantay. Ako pa ang napoproblema ngayon, p***, ako. Ang nakinabang kayo, kayo mga Pilipino sa totoo lang (Who is put at risk? Me, my family, their lives. Those devils are going to get back at me. I am not a millionaire to have a whole squad at my back protecting me. I am now the one with the problems. Did I benefit? You, you Filipinos),” Duterte said.

Aside from Wu, a certain Chen Hongli escaped while Joseph Dy, 42, was arrested in Barangay Paso de Blas, Valenzuela. Agents found more than 16 kilograms of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P108.8 million and one silver Toyota Camry.

Aside from Dy, PDEA agents also arrested Willie Lu Tan, 42; Anton Wong, 28; and Chen Zhin, 79.

The arrested suspects will face charges of violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

READ: Roque: Duterte’s drug war a ‘true legacy’

Duterte’s war on drugs came under scrutiny not only for killing suspects on-site, but also for largely targeting small-time drug peddlers as opposed to rich drug lords.

Some claim that the Duterte administration killed more than 7,000 people in the name of his bloody drug war, but human rights activists said the number could be close to 12,000.