MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday expressed optimism that the country’s next leader would also be eager to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country.

This, as Duterte raised concern anew over the possible resurgence of illegal drugs after his term ends in June 2022.

“Paalis na ako (I’m about to go), but I’m worried. I’m not saying that basig mudaog — kinsay mudaoag nila nga (I’m not saying that whoever wins is) incompetent or not the person who would… Kay kaning droga either paghawa nako, mubalik ni, mubalik gyud ni (Because once I step down, the drugs situation may come back. It will really come back) and it’s entering our shores,” he said in a speech delivered in Lapu-Lapu City.

Duterte said the country will be in trouble if the drug problem worsens.

He said he is hopeful that his successor would be as enthusiastic as him in waging a war on illegal drugs.

“I am not saying that anyone of them or all of them are incompetent. Masyadong paghambog iyan pero ang ano ko lang (That’s arrogance but my sentiment is), if they are really as committed as me in fighting the insurgency and the drug problem of our country. ‘Yun lang ang worry ko (That’s my worry),” Duterte said.

Duterte on March 21 said he would hold a dialogue with his successor to discuss the drug menace that continues to “haunt” the country.

A total of PHP76.01 billion worth of illegal drugs have been seized nationwide since the start of Duterte’s drug war in July 2016, according to the latest Read Numbers data released by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Wednesday.

Around 14,648 high-value targets have been arrested, as of February 2022.

Authorities have also arrested 331,694 individuals involved in illegal drugs.

Amid his relentless campaign against illegal drugs, Duterte reiterated his promise to protect police officers who carry out lawful anti-drug operations.

“Do your duty. If mademanda ka, sabi ko (If you face charges, I said), I am behind you lalo na dito sa droga (especially if it is because of the conduct of drug war),” Duterte said. “The police have the assurance that I will be there to protect them and to assume the full legal responsibility para sa inyo (for you).”

On Tuesday, Duterte instructed the PDEA to give human rights a copy of the report on the government’s anti-narcotics drive to enlighten them about the gravity of the drug problem in the country.

His latest directive to the PDEA came after London-based human rights group Amnesty International (AI), in its report for 2020 to 2021, claimed that extrajudicial executions and other human rights violations continue in the Philippines under the guise of Duterte’s drug war.

Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar dismissed as “false” and “rehashed” the AI report on Duterte’s drug war. (PNA)