Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday reiterated his contempt for illegal drugs, shabu in particular.
“Once an addict, he is a slave to a chemical of shabu forever, and it is painful to see that there is no hope,” Duterte said in the vernacular.
He said shabu contains chemicals that will eventually kill the user.
“The Americans are better off because cocaine comes from an organic plant,” he said during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan national council meeting in Parañaque City attended by its members from across the archipelago.
He called anew for an intensified campaign against illegal drugs.
During his six-year term, Duterte launched a relentless campaign against drugs that gained worldwide attention.
The International Criminal Court started an investigation into alleged human rights violations, prompting Duterte to withdraw the country’s membership in the ICC.
Last November, the ICC suspended its probe to assess “the scope and effect of the deferral request” of the Philippine government.
However, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan requested in June the investigation’s resumption.
Another prexy from PDP Laban
He said PDP Laban can still produce another president.
Duterte, who also chairs the PDP Laban, lauded party members for maintaining their integrity as part of one of the biggest political parties in the country.
“Bilib ako sa mga taga PDP Laban. Alam niyo kung bakit ako bilib sa inyo? Ang mga miyembro ng PDP Laban may prinsipyo. Kung wala kayong prinsipyo, lumukso na kayo sa kabila (I am amazed by the members of PDP Laban. You know why I’m amazed with you? Because all PDP Laban members have principles. If you don’t have principle, you might have jumped to another party),” he said
Duterte also called for early preparations for the mid-term elections.
“I commit to campaign for our candidates. I’m retired but I can still campaign for you,” he said as he expressed optimism for a stronger political party.
“Demokrasya tayo (We are in a democracy). We hope to build a strong PDP Laban, we already have four senators. We can produce another president. Maraming magagaling dito, mas mahusay pa sa kin (There many bright people here, better than me),” he said.
Duterte, who became president at the age of 71, vowed to continue helping the PDP Laban in its various political activities.
Meanwhile, PDP Laban vice-chair and former energy secretary Alfonso Cusi, said the party will continue to nourish and sustain its strong membership.
“Our strength as a party is our ability to stick together no matter how small we may become,” he said.
Cusi added that Duterte has already given its guidance to consolidate and strengthen the PDP Laban.
The party shall sustain Duterte’s advocacy against illegal drugs and corruption.