AMID his anti-narcotics campaign, President Rodrigo Duterte quipped Monday, December 3, that he took marijuana during the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Summits in Singapore.
Duterte, in a speech delivered at Palace's Heroes Hall, said in jest that he was using marijuana to help him cope with the "killing" Asean activities.
"You know, we start[ed] at 8:30 in the morning and we end up almost 10, 11 [in the evening]... Baka akala nitong Asean secretariat, boy scout kami. Hindi kaya iyan. It's whole day, hindi kaya (Perhaps, the Asean secretariat thought we're boy scouts. It's whole day, so we can't take it)," he said before Asean National Organizing Council officials.
"Nakita naman ninyo, it's a killing activity. And I think my age, ako, hindi masyado kasi nag-mamarijuana ako eh para magising. Sa iba, hindi kaya (You witnessed it. It's a killing activity. And I think, my age is one factor, but it does not affect me because I'm taking marijuana to keep myself awake. Others can't do it)," he added.
Duterte's remarks came amid his efforts to get rid of illegal drugs in the country under his watch.
In a chance interview with Palace reporters, the President said he was merely joking when he mentioned in his speech that he was using marijuana.
"Of course," he said, when asked if he was just joking about his "marijuana" remarks.
"Ikaw naman, alam mo naman, nagpapatawa lang talaga ako kasi boring kapag walang... But ikaw, tanungin kita, do you really believe na nagsisigarilyo ako ng marijuana? Really, ikaw, tatanungin kita? Do you really believe me using marijuana? Hala ka," Duterte added.
(You know I'm just joking because it's boring if I do not joke. But I'll ask you, do you really believe that I'm taking marijuana? Really, I'll ask you, do you really believe me using marijuana?)
The 73-year-old Chief Executive skipped several Asean engagements held in Singapore on November 13 to 15 to take "power naps."
On November 14, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte's absence in various Asean events had "nothing to do with his physical health and well-being, which have been the subject of speculation."
Prior to his fresh joke, Duterte explained in the same speech that he had to catch up on Asean summit and related summits.
"We only take yung pinaka-importante. 'Yung nuances about the other country, ano na 'yun. Only the urgent and immediate concern sa Asean. Hindi talaga kaya (We only take what's the most important. The nuances about the other country, that's a different issue. Only the urgent and immediate concern in Asean. We can't take the hectic schedule)," Duterte said.
"Susmaryosep, walang tulog. And the more that the crescendo becomes faster, mas lalo kang hindi nakakatulog kasi nga hinahabol ka na babasahin and so you do not want your president to look ignorant or sound ignorant, so I have to catch up with the reading," he added.
(My God, sleepless days. And the more that the crescendo becomes faster, the more you can't sleep because you have to listen to the speeches, and so you do not want your president to look ignorant or sound ignorant, so I have to catch up with the reading.)
In May this year, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said that Duterte is against legalization of marijuana in the country.
In the past, Duterte had said he would not allow the legalization of marijuana, but backed the use of medical marijuana. (SunStar Philippines)