Go apprehensive that Robredo might ‘baby’ drug lords; Bato says she has to be tough

While saying that he wants Vice President Leni Robredo to succeed, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed apprehension Wednesday that she might treat the drug lords as “babies.”

“Sa tingin ko parang gusto ‘ata nya i-baby ang mga drug lord, gusto niya sigurong padamihin. Kung takot ka patayin (ang drug lords) eh di dadami ‘yan. Ilang presidente na ang dumaan, nabawasan ba ang drug lord, nabawasan ba ang biktima ng droga?” Go told reporters when asked what Robredo could contribute in the campaign.

“E lalong dumami. Ngayon lang po ito nabawasan sa panahon ni President Duterte. Figures will show that 82% of the Filipinos are satisfied with the war on drugs,” he added.

Robredo has repeatedly condemned the deaths of drug suspects and other victims in the government’s bloody war against drugs.

Go said the strategy of Robredo might lead to more people being victimized by illegal drugs.

“Gusto namin mag-succeed siya pero natatakot po ako na mas lalong dadami ‘yung inosenteng mabibiktima ng droga,” he said.

He said drug lords will be bolder if there will be no one to threaten them.

“Bibilangin ko yan sa 2022 kung ilan pang inosente ang mabibiktima nitong droga na ito. I’m sure kung hindi mo idaan sa takot ang mga drug lord na ito, dadami ang drug lord, dadami ang droga, dadami ang mabibiktima,” he added.

The senator said if the Vice President does not want to kill the drug lords, she could just whisper their names to him.

“We want you to succeed, kailangan natin patayin ang mga drug lord, tutulungan ka namin, basta i-save natin ang mga inosente. Kung ayaw nya, ibulong lang niya sa amin, ibulong mo sa amin, Ma’am,” he said.

He added that designating Robredo as the co-chairperson of the inter-agency committee against illegal drugs is not a trap against her.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police chief and main implementor of the campaign against illegal drugs, said deaths are unavoidable in any war.

“War is not a bed of roses, hindi naman ito puwedeng pa-cute cute lang, di naman puwedeng paboka-boka lang, aksyon ito,” he said.

“Bakit may war ba na walang namamatay? Hindi ka mag-wage ng war walang mamatay, lalaki at lalaki ang negosyo ng droga, dadami ang apektado sa drug problem,” he added.

He said Robredo should be tough in implementing the campaign.

“She has to be tough. You should look at the problem not as a political problem. ‘Wag mo haluan ng pulitika, tignan mo ito as a social problem dahil pag pinasukan ng pulitika magkakawindang windang,” he said when asked on his advice to the Vice President. — RSJ, GMA News