Duterte rejects calls to become anti-drug czar

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte has rejected calls for him to become drug czar in the administration of President Marcos, saying it seems improper for him to take on the post as he respects the current leadership.

“Mukhang hindi na rin tama (It doesn’t seem right anymore), pastor, because there is the President duly elected and it is his duty to enforce the law and solve crimes,” Duterte said during his “Gikan sa Masa, para sa Masa” TV program hosted by evangelist Apollo Quiboloy over SMNI channel on Wednesday night.

Duterte said he wants to give way for the current leadership to address the country’s drug problem, which he believed is on the rise again.

The calls for Duterte to become drug czar came amid an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the alleged abuses committed during his administration’s war against illegal drugs.

The ICC probe was based on government data, showing that 6,181 people were killed duing Duterte’s anti-drug war.

Rights groups have questioned the figure, claiming up to 30,000 people may have been killed including bystanders and innocent civilians.

“Let us give Marcos the greatest elbow room leeway to do his job in just one year. In fairness sa mga pulis, ‘yan ang problema... It’s a matter of leadership (police),” Duterte said.

When he was still president-elect, Marcos said he was open to the idea of having his predecessor (Duterte) leading the fight against drugs.

Marcos said Duterte asked him to continue his drug war even if it becomes modified.

This developed as Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Bong Go — close allies of Duterte — earlier proposed the idea of the former president’s becoming the drug czar.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said during a Senate committee hearing last week that he would support moves to designate Duterte as drug czar.