Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte listens to successor President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr after the departure honors at the Malacanang Palace on June 30, 2022. King Rodriguez, Presidential Photo/File 

MANILA -- Former president Rodrigo Duterte denied on Tuesday that he accused his successor President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. of abusing drugs.  

"Si Presidente? Wala akong sinabi na ganoon, even if you kill me a thousand times, wala akong sinabi. Taking a drug, pero kung sabihin mong adik, wala akong sinabi na ganoon," he said in a press conference in Davao City.

Duterte told a large crowd of supporters in Davao City last month: "Bongbong, bangag yan. May drug addict tayo na president." 

"Noong ako ay mayor, pinakitaan ako ng evidence ng PDEA. Doon sa listahan, nandoon yung pangalan mo. Ayaw kong sabihin yan kasi magkaibigan tayo. Kung hindi magkaibigan, magkakilala… eh ikaw eh, pumapasok kayo ng alanganin. Mr. President, baka susunod ka sa dinaanan ng tatay mo. Diyan ako takot, ayaw kong mangyari sa iyo yan,” he said.

But in his latest remarks, Duterte said drugs could also refer to medical drugs. 

"Ayaw'g ingna nga wala kay antibiotic kaniadto, wala kay aspirin ('wag mong sabihin na wala kang antibiotic dati, wala kang aspirin.) They are all drugs," he said.

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Duterte also declined to further discuss plans about the Mindanao independence movement, which he floated earlier.

“It has always been the dream of some people to be independent, pero if it causes a rupture in our entire system sa republika, I will not go for it. Meaning I will not go for a force carving...Mindanao out of the Philippines,” he said.

“I do not want my country dismembered. I do not want a part of my country taken away. I do not want my country to be disturbed physically even the slightest. It goes for Luzon hanggang Jolo,” he added.

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-- Report from Hernel Tocmo