President Rodrigo Duterte has
vowed that his campaign against illegal drugs will continue amidst mounting
criticism over the rising death toll, calling on the nation to keep supporting
him.
In his
annual State of the Nation address, before Congress, Duterte said that the
illegal drug campaign was part of efforts to safeguard peace and order in the
country to encourage more investments.
The president also called
on his critics not to underestimate his drugs war by demanding human
rights.
"I
have learned that the economy surges only when there is peace and order in
places where investors can pool their capital and expertise," the
72-year-old president said.
"That
is why I have resolved that no matter how long it takes, the fight against
illegal drugs will continue because that is the root cause of so much evil and
so much suffering that weakens the social fabric and deters foreign investments
from pouring in," he added.
Since
President Duterte took office last year, thousands of people have died. He ordered
an unprecedented war on crime that has drawn global criticism for suspected
human rights abuses.
The move,
however, has been popular with many in the mainly Catholic nation.
Duterte
also said he wanted all mineral resources extracted from the country to be
processed domestically and, if possible, to stop exporting such commodities.
He said
he would hold mining companies responsible for the clean-up and rehabilitation
of areas damaged by mining.
He added
that the government on Friday would draft a new law for the country's mining
industry, which he said pays too little in tax and not enough in compensation
for any environmental damage.
Criselda
Yabes, a columnist, told Al Jazeera from Manila that there was not much change
compared to when Duterte made his State of the Nation address last year.
"There
has not been any signs of change in the country," she said.
"[The
president] would generally find the prepared speech boring, deviate from the
text and talk about anything under the sun," Yabes said, adding that most
of the time people get confused during his speeches.
"You
see Congress members clapping his every word and laughing at every joke he
makes, demonstrating the state of the country."
Source: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/07/170724094833109.html
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