MANILA: Outgoing Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has announced he will carry on with his 鈥渨ar on drugs鈥� even after the expiry of his term in office next month.
The Philippines has come under pressure from the UN to investigate allegations of systematic killings of drug suspects under the anti-drug campaign, which Duterte has led since assuming power in 2016.
According to official data, Duterte鈥檚 war on drugs has led to the deaths of over 6,000 Filipinos, but the International Criminal Court estimates the death toll could be 30,000.
The court鈥檚 prosecutors launched an investigation into the anti-drug campaign in September last year, saying it appeared to have been 鈥渁 widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population鈥� and could amount to crimes against humanity.
The probe was suspended two months later to assess a deferral request from the Philippine government and has not resumed since.
As Duterte鈥檚 six-year term expires on June 30, he said in a televised meeting with Cabinet members that drugs would make Philippine society 鈥渄ysfunctional.鈥�
鈥淲e can continue this fight even if I am already a civilian,鈥� he said, adding that he would rather see drug lords and drug peddlers 鈥渄ead than alive.鈥�
鈥淚f you destroy my country, it is as if you ended our lives. So, I want drug lords to know I will forever remain your enemy. Remember that.鈥�
Once he leaves office, Duterte will not have the official power to pursue his war on drugs.
鈥淗e cannot do that in his official capacity anymore,鈥� the president of the National Union of People鈥檚 Lawyers Edre Olalia told Arab News. 鈥淏ut, of course, you and I know that he鈥檚 still in power through proxies.鈥�
Duterte鈥檚 daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, is the running mate of Ferdinand Marcos, who scored a landslide victory in this month鈥檚 presidential election and is set to be inaugurated on June 30.
During his presidential campaign, Marcos vowed to continue Duterte鈥檚 policies, although he told the media he would also focus on education and rehabilitation in dealing with the country鈥檚 drug problems.
For Olalia, the fact that the drug problem still exists proves that Duterte鈥檚 approach has not helped address it.
鈥淥therwise, we will be harvesting the fruits of such an approach, if indeed there was now a lower supply of drugs in the market, fewer drug addicts, and if there were no more drug lords. That鈥檚 the best proof that it really is not working.鈥�