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VERA FILES FACT CHECK: In his own words: Duterte’s drug war, so far

Candidate Rodrigo Duterte, Budget Sec. Benjamin Diokno once said, is different from President Duterte.

Diokno made the statement in the context of Duterte’s broken campaign promise about hiking social security pension, but it could very well apply to the ostensible policy centerpiece of the current administration to eradicate illegal drugs.

When Duterte ran for president in 2016, he promised to end the country’s supposed narcotics problem in three to six months.

The deadline has passed, with Duterte continually revising his campaign promise.

Itong droga, hindi ako makaatras (I can no longer back out of my promise on drugs),” Duterte said in a speech Sept. 1 in Davao City.

Alam mo, when I said that, ‘Kaya ko, yung droga tapusin within three to six months,’ ang template ko ang Davao (But when I said that I will end the drug problem in three to six months, my template had only been Davao),” the president added.

Indeed, three to six months has now been extended to an indefinite time in the future when, according to the president, the last drug pusher would have been killed.

Watch the video below to see the evolution of Duterte’s war on drugs promise.

Sources:

RTVMalacañang. Speech of President Rodrigo Duterte during the 19th Founding Anniversary of the Volunteers against Crime and Corruption. August 16, 2017

RTVMalacañang. Speech of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during his Attendance to the 33rd Philippine Coastguard Auxiliary (PCGA) National Convention. May 9, 2017

RTVMalacañang. Speech of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the Grand Harvest Festival of Seh Leng Agritech Corporation. April 5, 2017

RTVMalacañang. Speech of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the Baden Powell Day (Founder’s Day) of the World Scout Organization of the Scout Movement and Investiture Ceremony of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. April 3, 2017

RTVMalacañang. Press Conference of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. January 29, 2017

RTVMalacañang. Speech of President Rodrigo Duterte during the 2016 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas. December 19, 2016

RTVMalacañang. Speech of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the Signing of the Executive Order on the Bangsamoro Transition Commission. November 17, 2016

RTVMalacañang. Speech of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Regional Convention. November 4, 2016

RTVMalacañang. Presentation of Norwegian Hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad to the Press. September 18, 2016

RTVMalacañang. Speech of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the Presentation Ceremonies of the 2016 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos’. September 12, 2016.

RTVMalacañang. Speech of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the oathtaking of the board of directors and officers. August 23, 2017

Video by Pinoy News Blogger. President Duterte assures people crime and corruption out in 3-6 months. July 13, 2016

RTVMalacañang. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Speech at the 69th Philippine Air Force Anniversary, Haribon Hangar, Air Force City. July 5, 2016

TV5. PiliPinas Debates 2016 Part 2. March 22, 2016

Inquirer.Net. PiliPinas Debates 2016 Part 1. February 21, 2016

Video by Kareena Rosario. Mayor Rody Duterte at MMSU Batac. February 19, 2016

(Guided by the
code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network at Poynter, VERA
Files tracks the false claims, flip-flops, misleading statements of public
officials and figures, and debunks them with factual evidence.
Find out more about this initiative.)