Duterte firmly stated, "My mandate as president of the republic was to protect the country and the Filipino people. I did what I had to do, and whether you believe it or not, I did it for my country." This reflects his unwavering defense of the controversial drug war policies, asserting that his actions were driven by a commitment to national safety despite the significant loss of life.
Amidst the controversy, he insisted that he told police to refrain from abuse, claiming they should only act in self-defense. He stated, "I have always viewed people addicted to illegal drugs as victims and patients requiring medical health and not as criminals," distancing himself from the killer image attributed to his administration.
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