PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte revealed Monday that he was not elated by the rising number of drug personalities killed in the country, despite his administration's staunch war on narcotics sale.
In a speech delivered at the awarding rites of the Ten Outstanding Young Men and Women of 2016, Duterte said he was hurt whenever Filipinos linked to drugs have been killed.
"On drugs, I know that people are killed. It doesn't make me happy. I am a Filipino. Perhaps, if that's a different person, from the Middle East or Africa, maybe if they are really guilty, I would not really enjoy it but it will give me a satisfaction," Duterte said.
The President further said that he did not find any "satisfaction" when the guns the government purchased are being used against his fellow Filipinos.
"You know, if there is someone being killed, I am not happy...I do not find satisfaction because I know that ultimately, it will be used against the Filipino," he said.
But despite this, Duterte maintained that his drug war must continue because the country is now in a "sorry state" because of drug problem.
Duterte, in his speech, also said that he had received a "very poignant" letter from Senator Richard Gordon in relation to drugs.
He, however, said that he could not stop his campaign against drugs because he wants his successor to "be freed from malignancy."
"A close friend of mine, Gordon, wrote me a very poignant letter. I respect him very much. I knew that it was his letter. But I think, Dick, you know, it's about too late in the day. I cannot [stop now]," Duterte said.
"But anyway, only a few are still alive because somehow, many have already been killed... My next successor should be freed from malignancy," he added. (Sunnex)
