Du30: I have full faith and confidence in our President
The much-reviled Oplan Tokhang was the lead program of the Philippine National Police in the successful campaign against narcotics which is now being considered for a revival.
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Daily TribuneThe much-reviled Oplan Tokhang was the lead program of the Philippine National Police in the successful campaign against narcotics which is now being considered for a revival.
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Photo | AFP
Saying that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos has his full faith and confidence, former President Rodrigo Duterte urged his successor not to heed detractors who do not contribute to the advancement of the nation.
Duterte, in a television interview Friday night with evangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, expressed his Holiday wish that Marcos succeeds against the dual scourge of criminality and illegal drug.
"I have full faith and confidence in our President. And those who are pessimistic, those guys who do not say anything good in government, any government for that matter, your (criticisms) are just there as… I'm sorry for you," he said.
The statements of the former President were a rare endorsement considering that in the 2022 campaigns, Marcos did not get his full support.
The former chief executive also had a score to settle with pseudo-rights groups who had tormented him endlessly during his term, citing the expletives-laden statements of Mr. Duterte where he repeatedly threatened to kill criminals and drug lords.
"These human rights people would like to picture me as… You got it all wrong guys, I'm here to protect the people, and maybe at the end of the day, I'm just an ordinary citizen," Duterte said, as he clarified there's no truth about him being linked to extrajudicial killings in the conduct of the anti-illegal drugs campaign.
The much-reviled "Oplan Tokhang" was the lead program of the Philippine National Police in the successful campaign against narcotics which is now being considered for a revival.
Former PNP chief, now Sen. Ronald "Bato" de la Rosa floated the possibility of the revival of "Oplan Tokhang."
Tokhang was a contraction of the words "toktok-hangyo" which means knock and plead in which the police tried innovative ways to persuade those involved in the drug trade particularly narcotics users to reform their ways.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier vowed to continue the war on drugs but "with respect for human rights and with focus on rehabilitation and socio-economic development."
Meanwhile, Duterte warned the drug traders against operating anew under the new administration.
"I'm just warning the drug guys. Do not commit the mistake of entering the city again. There's a little bit of spark happening here, it's (drugs trade) coming back but not as bad as in the previous days," he said.
Fundamental document
Duterte also emphasized that the Constitution remains the most fundamental in protecting the rights of the people.
"You know, a constitution is just a piece of paper. If you fail to recognize it, you can throw it away. But the Constitution as it is, especially democratic countries — this Constitution is scared first to the military," he said.
He added that military operations are always anchored with the Constitution, including police operations and the bureaucracy of the government.
"A constitution is just a piece of paper, but everything there — if applied, holds the country together and it would give the government the powers but at the same time, in this Constitution — it is the wall where the government will not go beyond," he said.
Due process of the Constitution, he said, is always applied to protect the rights of the people.
"Every one of us will be protected by the law. It defines the rights and obligations of the citizens," he said.
Duterte described the Constitution as a "masterpiece" that everyone "must honor."
"The one that guarantees the Constitution and the existence of the government in that constitution is the military — they are tasked with that — protecting the Constitution," he said.
He said the President, being the Commander in Chief of the military, doesn't always mean that one "can exceed" beyond what is stated in the Constitution as he recalled the allegations against him that he was abusing his authority.
