In his third State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte answered to those who disapprove of his war on drugs.
“Your concern is human rights, mine is human lives.”
Duterte has been repeatedly lambasted by international critics for the escalating death toll of his drug war.
However, the President has a different definition of human rights in mind.
“Human rights to me means giving Filipinos, especially those at the society’s fringes, a decent and dignified future.” Duterte said.
Meanwhile, netizens approve of the President’s address. His supporters are flooding Facebook with fist-bump emojis to express their support.
“Yan ang mga salita ni tatay Digong na malalim at may puso.?,” one commenter even said.
“Malaman and sincere ang mensahe nya, it’s not about him and his accomplishment but it’s about us.” Another one commented.
For the first time, President Duterte stuck with the prepared speech and did not deviate into an impromptu tirade. His SONA lasted about 50 minutes, the shortest yet in three years.