Manila, Philippines – President Duterte defended the criticism of the governments’ war against illegal drugs that the only target of its crackdown is the poor and low profile drug dealers. “Where is the big fish? Gusto mo? Punta ka ng China. Doon hanapin ninyo (Go to China, look for them there if you want them),” Duterte said in response to the critics who said that the campaign is not catching the “big fish.”
He said that the Philippine government forces cannot go there just to declare war, not that we are afraid but because it is not the right way to solve this problem. He cited that it is not correct for us to do and get a violent fight such as war now. Philippines have to maintain its integrity of the republic.
Once the maritime conflict is settled, the President is going to confront China over the drug problem and admitted that media prevented his plan to talk with the Chinese ambassador. According to him, the country has three million drugs dependent according to the figures of the past two years from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
He stressed out that the Philippine is on crisis and is facing a war. He said that the big fish are operating outside the country using modern technology to direct the flow of goods, drop points and locating the drugs. And those who operates here inside are just workers and lieutenant of the big fish.
The police and military are called by the president to destroy the criminals despite of the risk and promised them in a word of assurance that he will increase their salary and provide additional and new equipment for them to do a better job. “Just work,” Duterte said. “Your life is not something that I can throw away.” He added.