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PEACE AND ORDER, IMPROVED INVESTMENT CLIMATE

NEDA chief: Duterte’s war on drugs a ‘necessary evil’


National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief Soci-economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia on Tuesday stressed that attaining peace and order which includes President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs may be a necessary evil that will eventually make the Philippines more attractive to foreign investors.

"Well, definitely, the number zero in the zero to 10-point agenda is peace and order. And included in that is the fight against criminality and drugs and smuggling and tax evasion and other illegal activities," Pernia said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

"And if we have peace and order, which is the bedrock of the 10 points, the foundation of the 10 points, then, the investment climate will definitely, substantially improve and many will be rushing to the Philippines to invest," Pernia added.

The socio-economic planning secretary acknowledged the possibility that foreign investors may be turned off by Duterte's drug war or at least they have a negative perception about it.

Pernia then partly blamed the press for allegedly highlighting the stories of only those drug personalities killed.

"You know, the problem is the only ones interviewed by media are those whose husband or child had been killed or have been killed," he remarked.

"We should also try to get the view of others who approved of what’s happening and see it as really, see it as you know, necessary evil that needs to be, that has to happen in the pursuit of greater good," he added.

PHL a safe place

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa reported in the Senate probe on extrajudicial killings that 712 drug-related deaths were due to police operations while 1,062 were considered "deaths under investigation."

Officials from United Nations and the United States have both expressed alarm and concern over the rising death toll.

Despite this, Pernia reassured foreign investors that the Philippines is a safe place to visit just as long as they don't break any laws.

"I think foreigners have to be informed that if they come here and they behave, they didn’t do anything, you know, they don’t do any misdeed, then, they’re safe," he said. —ALG, GMA News

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