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Palace: Duterte fulfilled most of his promises with one year left in office

By LLANESCA T. PANTI,GMA News

President Rodrigo Duterte fulfilled most of his promises to the Filipino people with one year left before he steps down from office, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Wednesday. 

“The details will be delivered by the President in his last State of the Nation address [next month], but needless to say marami po tayong nakamit doon sa mga pinangako ni Presidente, lalung-lalo na doon sa laban sa pinagbabawal na droga,” Roque said in an interview with state-run PTV-4. 

(The President has fulfilled most of his promises, especially in the fight against illegal drugs.) 

Roque also claimed that a Pulse Asia study showed that most of Filipinos trust and are satisfied with the President’s performance because he stood his ground on his vow to address illegal drugs.

Likewise, Roque also credited the President for the passage of the Free College Education law covering state colleges and universities, as well as the Universal Healthcare law. 

Six days ago, Roque also said that the President’s priority for the remaining year is fighting illegal drugs. 

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“It (priority) hasn’t changed, it is still ensuring that every Filipino is vaccinated [against COVID-19] and his continuing campaign against corruption and prohibited drugs,” Roque said.

The President’s centerpiece policy, however, is under question with one year to go, given that the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) has called on the supposed victims of Duterte’s war on drugs to submit their views, concerns, and expectations regarding the possible ICC probe.

The ICC probe was requested by former ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda due to “reasonable basis to believe that crimes against humanity has been committed in the context of the drug war.” 

The 52-page Bensouda report, citing police, human rights groups and confidential sources, also stated that the drug war killings had a pattern of killing suspects who are not resisting arrest, with some even begging for their lives to be spared. —KG, GMA News