MANILA, Philippines – Dared to get the “big fish” in the illegal drug trade, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said the brains behind drug syndicates cannot be found in the Philippines. 

Duterte said the “big fish” stay in a country he chooses not to name. He earlier called out China for its nationals’ involvement in the illegal drug trade.

In a speech in Maguindanao on Friday, July 22, Duterte said: “Saan ako magkuha ng big fish? Sige, kung magsulat akala mo marurunong. Bakit maliit lang? ‘Hoy, I have to invade a country to arrest the drug lords.’ Bilyonaryo na yan doon. Hindi mo makuha ‘yan.”

(Where will I get the big fish? When they write, it’s as if they’re smart. Why just the small ones? ‘Hey, I have to invade a country to arrest the drug lords.’ They’re billionaires there. You can’t just get them.) 

“I will not name the country but obviously it is known to you,” he added. 

‘Ang big fish, wala dito‘

Duterte earlier said he plans to air his grievances to China about the involvement of Chinese nationals in the illegal drug trade.

This week alone, Philippine airport police detained a 27-year-old Chinese woman who allegedly smuggled 11 packs of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, worth P6.2 million* ($131,530). 

On Friday, Duterte said critics looking for the “big fish” can go with him into the government’s intelligence room. 

“Big fish, big fish. Ang big fish, wala dito. Nandoon sa kanila, sa bahay nila,” he said. (Big fish, big fish. The big fish aren’t here. They’re in their places, in their homes.)

Duterte said, “That’s why I intend to talk to China.”

China, for its part, said it is willing to work with the Duterte administration to fight illegal drugs.

The Asian giant described illegal drugs as a “common enemy of mankind.” – Rappler.com

* $1 = P47.13