SPEAKING before Russian officials and experts, President Rodrigo Duterte lashed out Thursday, October 3, at his critics, including the United States (US), over "unfair" comments on his war on illegal drugs.
Duterte, in a speech at the annual forum of the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia, vented his frustrations over some of the Philippines' "so-called friends" who pretend to understand the current situation in the country.
He lamented that "exceptionalism" and "double standards" thrive, without considering the challenges being faced by his administration that require different sets of solutions.
"Some of our partners have hurled unfair criticisms against my Government about perceived excesses in our fight against drugs," the President told his audience.
"They see what they want to see to justify their preconceived notions, and not trying to understand that what truly is happening is there in my country. Is this how friends treat each other?" he added.
Duterte's drug war was strongly opposed by several countries and human rights advocates because of the spate of killings of alleged drug personalities.
Some 6,847 suspected drug offenders have been killed in legitimate anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016 to July 31, 2019, according to the Philippine National Police.
Duterte, in his speech, said the growing opposition to his drug war merely weakens his administration's ability to "protect law-abiding citizens from outlaws."
He said he was already tired of the "misguided and self-serving crusades of the few," as these limit his government's capability to "stop the vicious cycle of internal conflict and underdevelopmentā.
"We only seek to protect our republic [from] those who wish to tear it apart. We only seek to curb criminality that corrodes the very structure of government. We only seek to build a credible defense against those who might be tempted to violate our territorial integrity," Duterte said.
"Is this not something that all nations are entitled to? Is this not what democratically elected governments are mandated to do?" he added.
The President, however, clarified that he is not against western countries, especially the US, which he dubbed as a "close friend of the Philippines."
He explained that the Philippines merely seeks "fairness, equality, and mutual respect" to achieve "meaningful change" that will benefit the Filipino people.
He also stressed the need to observe "at all times" the "principles of respect for state sovereignty, non-intervention, and peaceful resolution of disputes."
"The Philippines does not ask for special treatment nor favors from its partners. It does not seek exemption from the norms and principles that have kept the peace in our world for decades... We want a strengthened rules-based order where countries, big or small, are treated the same," Duterte said.
"We want unimpeded freedom - guaranteed by our Constitution - to exercise our right to govern ourselves as a people and as we saw it fit. And we want friends and partners to respect our independence to make sovereign decisions just as we respect theirs," he added. (SunStar Philippines)