Cayetano: Western approach not applicable to PHL's drug war

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday claimed that the "health-based" Western approach in curbing the use of illegal drugs is not applicable to the Philippines where methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu is widely used.

"'Yung health-based na sinasabi nila is an ideology in Europe na kasama dito is legalization of drugs for personal use na tingin ko ay mas makakasama. They're not talking about specifics," Cayetano said in an interview on Unang Balita.

Cayetano pointed out that shabu is different from other recreational drugs.

"Mismo ang UN (United Nations) ang nagsabi na hindi ito katulad ng cocaine or ng opium or ng morphine. Ang shabu causes erratic and violent behavior. So magkaiba ang ideology sa West at dito kasi magkaiba ang drogang ginagamit eh," he said.

Cayetano made the remark following the suggestion of Vice President Leni Robredo to re-assess or tweak the administration's war on drugs as she highlighted the increasing number of drug users amid the government's anti-illegal drugs campaign.

He also reiterated his call for the Vice President, who is batting for a health-based approach in curbing the narcotics problem in the country, to offer a concrete solution to the drug menace.

"Ang suggestion ko kay Vice President Leni, ilatag mo plano mo kasi madaling mag-criticize eh," he said.

Robredo previously said that drug addiction must be viewed as a health problem. Hence, drug users must be put under rehabilitation instead of being treated as criminals who should be killed. —Dona Magsino/KBK, GMA News