President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shares a light moment with the guests during the Joint 68th National Security Council and 69th National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Founding Anniversary Celebration at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on July 31, 2018. Karl Norman Alonzo, Malacanang Photo

MANILA - Even with four years more left in his term, President Rodrigo Duterte has described himself as a “lame duck” leader.

Duterte said this as he stressed that he was undeterred by criticisms.

“I do not give a s*** about criticisms for criticisms after all do not make a country progress and develop. Criticisms for --- lalo na ‘yung napulitika, they cannot accept defeat,” Duterte said in his speech during the 117th anniversary celebration of the police service in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

“Look, I have hit the firewall. I cannot run again. For all intents and purposes, actually I am a lame duck President. If you are talking about politics, okay. I will not interfere anyway because after this, I cannot even run for a barangay captain.”

Duterte has been heavily criticized for his war on drugs which, police data show, has claimed over 4,000 lives.

Despite growing calls to stop his anti-narcotics campaign, he issued fresh warnings to policemen involved in illegal activities, saying these bad eggs taint the credibility of the police force.

“We don’t destroy nations. We have to protect and serve our nation. We have to prepare the world of our descendants for tomorrow,” he said.

“If we cannot do something now about drugs, your grandchildren will suffer [because we] would have left a life and a nation to them that is still in shambles.”

He also vowed anew to look after cops slapped with charges related to the performance of their duty.

He said he would even be willing to still give salaries to cops who were suspended in the performance of their duty.

“When your life is in danger, you stick to the law. I will be here, as a president. I will never allow you to go to jail. Just do our duty, wala kayong isipin,” he said.