Duterte to critics: Adopt an addict

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday again had some choice words for critics of his war on drugs, and even made them a suggestion: adopt an addict.

In a speech delivered at the oathtaking of the People's National Movement for Federalism (PENAMFED) at the Reception Hall in Malacañang, Duterte explained anew that when he assumed the presidency, the budget for the year had already been set by the previous administration. This means that he is limited to that budget, and thus cannot yet build drug rehabilitation centers for addicts.

"Sabi, 'Bakit patayin ni Duterte? Hindi niya lang i-rehab?' Ay na, hindi mo lang alam, mare, na wala na akong mapasukan. Gusto mo, itulong na lang ninyo. Ang mga bahay ninyo, magreserba ka, mga mansyon, mga apat, lima, anim ang mga kwarto. Eh di ibigay ninyo ang isa. Adopt an addict and see what happens. So that's my advice," he said.

"If you want, kayong mga bleeding hearts, if you really want to stop the violence ganoon, mag-adopt na lang. Adopt ng addict. Share a love between your fellow men. Sige... Para malaman ninyo ang perdition ng isang drug addict," he added.

"Kasi kung gusto ninyo, unahin ko iyong sa Tondo. Kayo na ang mamili kung sino ang gusto ninyo doon. Babae, lalaki. Just the same, kapag naloko iyan, sasaksakin kayo diyan. Massacre ang labas. Akala nila ganoon kadali," Duterte also said.

He also urged his critics to go to drug-infested neighborhoods and meet drug addicts so they would know the depth of the problem of the narcotics trade.

"Kayong mga critics, you're better off going into the neighborhoods and find out kung  sino ang mga nandiyan. Kanyang mga pari, spend time with people, go out, who are really affected. They're better off giving the advice of how to seek treatment," he said.

Various sectors have criticized the growing death toll in the war on drugs, including religious groups and human rights organizations. — BM, GMA News