Push Admin

Duterte sorry for 'loss of lives' in drug bust that killed 4 Chinese

Article (news)

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="President Rodrigo Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on Sept. 2, 2021. Simeon Celi, Presidential Photo" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/09/08/20210902-duterte-thursday-iatf-ho-19.jpg"/><figcaption>President Rodrigo Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on Sept. 2, 2021. <em>Simeon Celi, Presidential Photo</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte said he is &quot;sorry&quot; for the &quot;loss of lives&quot; in a drug bust this week that left dead 4 Chinese nationals and seized the government&#x27;s biggest narcotics haul this year so far.</p><p>Tuesday&#x27;s operation in Zambales province yielded P3.4 billion worth of meth, locally known as shabu. The 4 suspects were killed in a reported shootout with authorities. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/07/21/4-chinese-dead-p34-b-in-meth-seized-in-years-biggest-drug-bust">4 Chinese men killed, P3.4-B in meth seized in year&#x27;s biggest drug bust</a></li></ul><p>&quot;I’m sorry for the loss of lives. Hindi man natin ginusto ‘yan (we did not want that). But I just hope that the countries from where these guys come from should understand that we have laws to follow,&quot; Duterte said in a taped national address that aired on Wednesday. </p><p>Duterte then told Filipinos abroad, &quot;‘Pag nasabit kayo sa droga sa labas, hindi ako makialam, even in case ‘yong sabihin na i-execute na.&quot; </p><p>(If you are tagged in drugs outside, I will not interfere, even in cases where you&#x27;d be executed.) </p><p>Duterte in 2016 promised to stamp out crime and narcotics in 3 to 6 months. </p><p>Repeating a remark in his last State of the Nation Address, he said when he promised this, he <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/26/21/duterte-sona-2021-drugs-corruption">did not know</a> he was fighting some government officials dabbling with drugs.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/slideshow/07/26/21/sona-2021-duterte-promises">From ending ‘endo’ to waging drug war: Has change come under Duterte?</a></li></ul><p>More than 6,000 people have been killed in over 200,000 anti-drug operations conducted since July 2016, according to official data. Human rights groups estimate the number of dead could be several times higher.</p><p>A former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has requested a full-blown inquiry into the alleged crimes against humanity under Duterte&#x27;s drug war. </p><p>Duterte refuses to submit to the ICC inquiry. In 2019, he withdrew the Philippines from the court after it launched a preliminary examination into the war on drugs.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/22/21/duterte-icc-probe-bullshit-drug-war">Duterte calls ICC drug probe ‘bulls**t’, says he won’t defend self before ‘white people’</a></li></ul><p>The court could still investigate crimes committed while the country was a member, ICC&#x27;s former chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has said. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/06/19/21/duterte-icc-case-update">Duterte&#x27;s cooperation in ICC probe &#x27;preferred, but not essential&#x27; - law expert</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/15/21/dutertes-refusal-to-cooperate-with-icc-probe-not-a-problem-amnesty-intl">Duterte&#x27;s refusal to cooperate with ICC probe &#x27;not a problem&#x27;: Amnesty Int&#x27;l</a></li></ul><p>The Supreme Court has junked petitions questioning Duterte&#x27;s withdrawal from the ICC, but it also reiterated in a ruling this July that the Philippines is still obliged to comply with the ICC treaty. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/21/21/sc-president-has-no-unbridled-authority-to-withdraw-from-icc-treaty-but-junks-petitions-questioning-it">SC: President has no ‘unbridled authority’ to withdraw from ICC treaty but junks petitions questioning it</a></li></ul><div><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1768422" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

President Rodrigo Duterte said he was sorry for the deaths of 4 Chinese in a drug bust.

Duterte sorry for 'loss of lives' in drug bust that killed 4 Chinese

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Duterte sorry for 'loss of lives' in drug bust that killed 4 Chinese

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 08, 2021 11:08 AM PHT

|

Updated Sep 08, 2021 01:57 PM PHT

Read More:

Rodrigo Duterte

Duterte ICC

Duterte drugs

Duterte drug war

Duterte crimes against humanity

Duterte International Criminal Court

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.