\n Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte pledged on Monday to press ahead with a war on drugs that has already killed thousands, and castigated critics of his signature initiative.\n<\/p>\n
\n Duterte opened his annual State of the Nation Address with a defence of the narcotics crackdown that is now in its third year and remains largely supported in the Philippines despite fierce international censure.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"Let me begin by putting it bluntly: the war against illegal drugs is far from over,\" he told hundreds of assembled lawmakers, celebrities and dignitaries.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"It will be as relentless and chilling, if you will, as on the day it began.\"\n<\/p>\n
\n Duterte launched the crackdown shortly after coming to power in June 2016. Since then authorities claim 4,354 alleged drug users and dealers have been killed in police operations.\n<\/p>\n
\n However, human rights groups and critics say the true number of dead is at least triple that. They say the killing could amount to crimes against humanity.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"If you think that I can be dissuaded from continuing this fight because of demonstrations, your protests which I find misdirected, then you got it all wrong,\" he said, referring to critics.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"Your concern is human rights, mine is human lives,\" he added.\n<\/p>\n
\n This year's address was marked by high drama as political infighting in Congress delayed the passage of autonomy legislation for the nation's Muslim minority.\n<\/p>\n
\n After years of political wrangling and negotiations, a final draft of the proposed law was on the point of being approved and sent to Duterte for his signature.\n<\/p>\n
\n - 'Never gain a foothold' -\n<\/p>\n
\n But a fight for control of the top leadership post in the House of Representatives led to the delay of a final vote.\n<\/p>\n
\n Duterte, who uncharacteristically stuck to a prepared speech, promised the legislation would still move forward.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"When the approved version is transmitted and received by my office... I intend to -- give me 48 hours -- to sign it and ratify the law,\" he added.\n<\/p>\n
\n The measure is the key missing element in a languishing peace pact with the largest Islamic rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Along with other guerrillas, it waged a rebellion that has claimed about 150,000 lives since the 1970s.\n<\/p>\n
\n The law aims to reinforce a historic but fragile 2014 peace deal under which the MILF will give up its quest for an independent homeland in the southern island of Mindanao in return for self-rule in a new region.\n<\/p>\n
\n Both sides believe that creating the area will deter extremism in a region where brutal poverty and perennial bloodshed has fuelled recruitment by radical groups.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"I have made a pledge that ISIS terrorists or groups or allies will never gain a foothold in our country,\" Duterte said, referring to the months-long seige last year of the southern city of Marawi by jihadists.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"We owe it to our fallen soldiers and police officers in Marawi and elsewhere to put an end to the bloodshed and seek the path of true peace,\" he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte pledged on Monday to press ahead with a war on drugs that has already killed thousands, and castigated critics of his signature initiative. Duterte opened his annual State of the Nation Address with a defence of the narcotics crackdown that is now in its third year and remains largely supported in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[553],"tags":[],"ji_location":[],"class_list":["post-38092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-live-feed"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n