BULUAN, Maguindanao– President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday slammed critics over accusations that the government’s anti-drug war is hitting only the small fish, saying, “you have to invade a country to arrest the drug lords”.

Speaking after inspecting the Buluan 5 megawatt biomass power plant project in this town, Mr. Duterte said big-time drug lords are from China and dismissed criticisms that his anti-illegal drugs campaign only targets the small-time drug pushers.

According to the President, big-time drug lords do not operate in the country but do their operation remotely.

He said they “cook” illegal drugs at sea, hinting at the recent apprehension of Chinese nationals maintaining a shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) laboratory in Subic.

President Duterte said based on intelligence information, drug lords have a map of the Philippines with real-time indicators of their drugs operation.

He is even ready to show to critics how the “big fish” do their trade.

The Chief Executive initially refused to name the country where the big-time drug lords are operating, but later on said that he wanted to talk with Chinese authorities and ask how come many of the arrested drug dealers in the country come from China.

“I have to invade a country if I want to arrest a drug lord. Big fish are not operating here in the Philippines. I intend to talk to China, bakit ganun (why is that)?,” Mr. Duterte said.

The President said that those arrested here with kilos and kilos of illegal drugs are actually just “lieutenants” while the “generals” are far from the clutches of the Philippine authorities.

But he said small fish could lead to big fish and drug lords will eventually lose Philippines as their market.

President Duterte reiterated his warning to everybody involved in the illegal drug trade never to destroy the Philippines as he will kill them.

And never destroy the young people because “I will kill you,” he said. (PNA)