Philippine leader unabashedly threatens to kill drug dealers

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte unabashedly renewed his threat to kill drug dealers in his final state of the nation speech on Monday, while defending his nonconfrontational approach in the country's territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea.

Duterte, 76, who won a six-year presidential term in 2016, is winding down his often-tumultuous presidency amid a raging pandemic, a battered economy and a legacy overshadowed by his deadly campaign against illegal drugs that has set off complaints of mass murder before the International Criminal Court.

While many expected him to focus on ways to combat the coronavirus, which has devastated the economy and worsened hunger and poverty, Duterte instead devoted most of a rambling, nearly three-hour televised speech to non-pandemic topics he has addressed repeatedly in the past.

Duterte reiterated his threat to kill drug dealers, explaining it is tougher to fight criminals 'œthe legal way,'ť while daring the International Criminal Court to record his remarks.

'œI would never deny and the ICC can record it: Those who destroy my country, I will kill you. And those who destroy the young people of our country, I will kill you,'ť Duterte said. 'œI will really bring you down because I love my country.'ť

'œYou can do it the legal way, but it would take you months and years,'ť Duterte told an audience of legislators, Cabinet members and foreign diplomats.

Duterte and police officials have denied condoning extrajudicial killings, but he has repeatedly threatened to kill suspects in his public speeches. More than 6,000 mostly petty suspects have been killed during police drug raids. In addition, a large number have also been gunned down by motorcycle-riding assassins who human rights groups suspect are linked to law enforcement.

The killings have alarmed Western governments, U.N. rights experts and human rights groups. Duterte has acknowledged that he failed to fulfill a campaign promise to eradicate the drug menace and deeply entrenched corruption within six months of becoming president. But he said he had found at least nine police generals and Bureau of Customs officials were involved in the drug trade.

'œI did not know that I was fighting my own government,'ť he said, although the involvement of law enforcers and public officials has long been reported.

Randy Delos Santos, whose 17-year-old nephew, Kian, was shot to death in 2017 by three officers who were later convicted of murder, said the poor have been traumatized by the drug crackdown.

'œHe has not won this war on drugs, because the problem is still there, but a lot of families have lost their breadwinners,'ť Delos Santos told The Associated Press. 'œWe're the biggest loser and we still live in fear.'ť

An ICC prosecutor said last month a preliminary examination found reason to believe crimes against humanity had been committed under Duterte's crackdown on drugs and sought permission to open a formal investigation. Duterte said he will never cooperate with a possible investigation.

Allies have defended Duterte's record, with documentaries on state-run TV and speeches highlighting his administration's efforts to fight criminality, poverty, corruption and decades-long communist and Muslim insurgencies, as well as build infrastructure.

But increasingly vocal opponents have criticized Duterte's handling of key issues, including his refusal to confront China's pressing of territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Duterte said he had not aggressively confronted China because a military solution is not an option for the weaker Philippines.

'œIt will be a massacre if I go and fight a war now,'ť Duterte said. 'œWe are not yet a competent and able enemy of the other side.'ť

Duterte thanked medical workers who are fighting the coronavirus along with private companies and foreign banks which provided help and funds that allowed the country to deal with the pandemic.

He said the economy can hardly endure more lockdowns, but that if the highly contagious delta variant spreads widely he would have little option but to resort to more restrictions.

'œI really do not know what to do. I have to listen to the task force,'ť he said, referring to a government body of Cabinet officials and medical experts which has been dealing with the pandemic.

The Philippines has reported more than 1.5 million COVID-19 infections, including 27,224 deaths. Months of lockdowns and natural disasters caused the economy to plummet by 9.5% last year.

Opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she failed to hear clear plans in Duterte's speech for dealing with inadequate virus testing and contact tracing and the massive number of Filipinos who lost their livelihood because of the pandemic.

'œOur people wanted to hear about jobs and health from the president. He should have focused on these most of all,'ť Hontiveros said.

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Associated Press journalists Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila contributed to this report.