Duterte asks military to give a hectare of land for rehab facility

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has asked the military to allot one hectare of land for the rehabilitation facility of drug dependents to prevent them from returning to their old ways.

 

“I will have to use your (military) camps. It’s only the military who has a vast reservation of land,” Duterte said during a dinner with the Presidential Security Group in Malacañan Sunday night.

 

“I’m just asking for one hectare of property. After all, I surrounded it with barb wire. I will build the rehabilitation facilities,” he added.

 

Duterte said drug addicts would likely commit crimes if they are allowed to roam the streets.

 

“The three million (drug dependents) will hold-up again or kill people because they need the fix for the day. Now, crime has gone down because everybody is afraid,” the president said.

 

“We have to finish this problem because it is threatening our country. With three million addicts, my God, and those who surrendered today is just about 180. That is how serious our problem is,” he added.

 

WATCH: Duterte wants to open military camps to drug abusers

 

Duterte has declared a brutal and ruthless war against narcotics and has vowed to kill drug lords whom he said are “destroying the country and the youth.” He has also bared plans to tap the Armed Forces in his intensified drive against drugs and criminality.

 

Human rights advocates, however, are worried that the intensified anti-drug campaign would lead to extrajudicial killings and harassment. They pointed out the recent spate of killings of people believed to have links with drug rings.

 

More than 200 drug suspects have been killed in law enforcement operations while more than 120,000 drug pushers and users have surrendered to authorities.

 

In his previous speeches, Duterte said the “big fish” of the drug trade are in China and not much can be done unless there is an international warrant against them.

 

“For now, we cannot do much but I have to destroy the apparatus. If I don’t disrupt the supply and demand, nothing will happen,” he said.

 

During his first State of the Nation Address last July 25, Duterte said he would not stop the campaign against drugs until the last drug pusher is jailed.

 

"There will be no let-up in this campaign.  Double your efforts. Triple them, if need be. We will not stop until the last drug lord, the last financier and the last pusher have surrendered or put behind bars or below the ground if they so wish," the president said.

 

“To our police officers and other officials, do your job and you will have the unwavering support of the Office of the President. I will be with you all the way,” he added.