TACLOBAN, Leyte — It was not right to kill thousands of Filipinos to eradicate illegal drugs in the country, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Tuesday, the same day former president Rodrigo Duterte faces crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In his speech during the campaign rally of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate here, Marcos stressed that a peaceful and orderly situation in the Philippines could be achieved through effective lawmaking and not by killing thousands of Filipinos.

"In the fight against illegal drugs and crime, we don't need to go through bloody means. None of us believe that the solution to crime and drugs is to kill thousands of our fellow Filipinos. That is not right," Marcos said.

The president then pushed for strengthening law enforcement through proper legal frameworks and institutional support for the police and local government units.

"The only way to ensure peace and order is through proper lawmaking and effective support to the police and our local governments," he added.

This was a notable departure from the previous Duterte administration's bloody drug war, which human rights groups claim resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings.

Duterte is currently at the ICC detention center in The Hague and made his initial appearance before the international court at 9 p.m. (Manila time) on Friday.

The former president was arrested on Tuesday and taken to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity of murder in connection with killings under his administration's war on drugs.

Marcos, who is looking for a 12-0 victory for his senatorial candidates, said Duterte's arrest was proper.

In the same speech on Friday, Marcos also reiterated his administration's decision to ban Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), citing their alleged links to criminal activities.

He said his administration's focus was on creating legitimate employment opportunities instead of relying on industries with questionable effects on the country's security and stability.

"When it comes to our economy and work, we do not need to rely on illegal activities like POGOs. We left that business because it only became breeding zones of crime and violence, which became a problem for the entire country. That's why we left that industry," Marcos said.

"The correct solution is by providing real jobs, real sources of livelihood, and support for those in need. Let us unite. What we need here in the Philippines is to refrain from fighting others. What we need is to have Filipinos who love their fellow Filipinos," he added.

Marcos and his senatorial candidates were in Leyte to woo voters in the province said to be his family's bailiwick in the Visayas.

Alyansa is fielding senators Bong Revilla, Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Lito Lapid and Francis Tolentino; former senators Manny Pacquiao, Tito Sotto and Ping Lacson; House lawmakers Deputy Speaker Camille Villar and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo; former interior secretary Benhur Abalos and Makati City Mayor Abby Binay.

"This alliance group will bring about a better Philippines," the president told residents of Leyte.

Alyansa campaign manager Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco said they were expecting Leyte to again support Marcos and his candidates.

"Leyte has always stood with President Marcos and his vision for a stronger Philippines. We believe the Leyteños will continue to support leaders who will work with the administration in delivering real progress," Tiangco said.

Speaker Martin Romualdez vowed a sweeping victory for the Alyansa senatorial candidates, highlighting Leyte as a stronghold of both the Marcos and Romualdez families.

"I promise that the president's candidates will win big here in Tacloban City and Leyte. We will deliver a big victory for the Alyansa ticket," Romualdez said.

The speaker said Tacloban, Leyte, and Eastern Visayas would choose candidates who would help Marcos in his aspiration to make life better for all Filipinos and deliver progress to the provinces, including remote communities.

He recalled that in the 2022 presidential elections, Leyte delivered 641,065 votes to Marcos, while his closest rival received only 99,207 votes.

"Leyteños consider President BBM as one of their own," Romualdez said.

Leyte is the home province of the president's mother, former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, who once served as representative of the province's first congressional district.

The Tacloban rally is the ninth campaign sortie of the administration Alyansa slate as it seeks to consolidate support in key regions ahead of the May midterm elections.

Health care support

Meanwhile, Alyansa senatorial candidates called for stronger national government support for local health facilities, warning that many local government units (LGUs) lack the resources to sustain super health centers.

In a press conference, Binay lamented that LGUs were being forced to take on health care responsibilities they could not afford.

She said the Department of Health (DOH) should not leave LGUs to fend for themselves.

"We have to stop this attitude of simply dumping projects on LGUs and telling them 'bahala ka na sa buhay mo' (be responsible for your life)," she said, adding that it was wrong to keep building facilities without the proper support for their operation.

Binay proposed clustering municipalities to share a super health center, making them more viable.

Super health centers are designed to provide primary health care services, including consultations, laboratory tests, and minor medical procedures, serving as an alternative to overcrowded hospitals.

However, many LGUs struggle to sustain these facilities due to financial constraints and a lack of medical personnel.

With only 20 LGUs in Leyte applying for funding and just nine centers operational, the candidates urged the DOH to overhaul its approach.

Tulfo, a former Social Welfare secretary, said many district hospitals were not maximized due to a lack of funding, staffing and medicine, warning that this discourages LGUs from investing in health care.

The DOH must directly manage super health centers, from staffing to medical supplies, Tulfo said.

Lacson warned that the Universal Health Care Act was failing due to underfunding and poor execution.

He said that the budget must match the law's promise of ensuring all Filipinos have access to quality and affordable health care.

"Our budget is lifeline of our health care system. Our laws are useless if these were not fully funded," Lacson added.