In a recent presidential statement, there was a call for action regarding the rampant drug epidemic, particularly focusing on the potent narcotic fentanyl. The president emphasized the gravity of fentanyl’s strength as a painkiller, its high addictive potential, and its severe side effects. Expressing concern, the president highlighted the prolonged use of fentanyl by an individual, suggesting that it has been ongoing for several years without recent disclosure. There is a palpable hope that the individual’s medical team will exercise enhanced vigilance and care in monitoring and managing their health moving forward.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr stated, “I’m urging you to think about it, it’s the narcotic fentanyl is the strongest painkiller that you can buy, it is highly addictive and it has a very serious side effect and Duterte has been taking the drug for a very long time now when was the last time he told us that he was taking fent 5-6 years ago something like that after 5-6 years it has to affect so you know I hope his doctors take better care of him”.
In a swift response to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s accusation of being a “drug addict,” Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attributed Duterte’s judgment to his prolonged use of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. Marcos, departing for Vietnam, asserted that Duterte’s consistent fentanyl intake over the years may have impacted his discernment, suggesting, “I think it’s the fentanyl.” Addressing the accusations and calls for resignation, Marcos expressed concern for Duterte’s well-being, urging his doctors to provide better care. Duterte had also alleged Marcos’s inclusion in the drug agency’s ‘narco-list,’ a claim vehemently denied by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. These accusations emerged amid demands for Marcos’s resignation from Duterte’s son, the current mayor of Davao, citing concerns over criminality and foreign policy decisions. Despite international scrutiny over Duterte’s brutal anti-drug campaign, which led to thousands of deaths, Marcos’s government refuses cooperation with the International Criminal Court’s investigation into the matter.
