For once, good news from China.
Speaking before the Filipino community in Indonesia during his state visit on Fri, Sep 9, President Rodrigo Duterte said China will help build a drug rehabilitation facility in Fort Magsaysay in the northern province of Nueva Ecija, roughly five hours away from Manila.
In a GMA News report, Duterte said, “China offered to build the rehab… They are bringing the materials there already.”
“Only China ang magtulong sa atin (helped us),” he adds.
Duterte, who has launched an all-out war on illegal drugs, also pointed out that he cannot build rehabilitation centers for now because the 2016 budget, which was created by the previous administration, “does not include treatment and rehabilitation for 3.7 million drug addicts.”
For their help in looking out for the welfare of those involved with illegal drugs, Duterte expressed his heartfelt thanks to China’s generosity.
“I would like to thank China for being generous to us,” he said.
Some critics, however, cannot help but notice the irony of China’s gesture — considering that it is one of the major sources of drugs in the Philippines.
According to the US Department of State’s country report on the Philippines, “recent seizures indicate that higher purity methamphetamine from Mexico is potentially supplanting less pure Chinese-sourced methamphetamine.
“Despite this new trend, the most substantial source of methamphetamine remains bulk shipments from China, largely controlled by Chinese organized criminal groups.”
