GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Senators: Duterte drug war not a failure
Senators weighed in Monday on the statement of Vice President Leni Robredo that the Duterte administration’s war on drugs is a failure.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said it is not a failure because the government continues to fight illegal drugs.
“No. Failure is only when you stop fighting! War vs. Drugs fails only when you stop fighting. It's a constant battle vs. drug dealers, drug dependents, corrupt officials, and cerebrally challenged critics,” Sotto said in a message to reporters.
He said Robredo raised valid points but it is much like the perspective of the executive department.
“They fail to highlight the main issue of prevention. I keep on harping, "the day we stop buying is the day they stop selling!"” he said.
He said the drug prevalence in Quezon City in 1992 went down from 54% to 9% because they put emphasis on prevention. Sotto served as vice mayor of Quezon City and led its anti-drug campaign.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who served as the administration’s main implementor of the war on drugs when he was Philippine National Police chief, asked where Robredo got her figures when she is claiming that the government did not give her data.
“Hindi ko siya maintindihan. Sabi niya walang datos or kulang kulang ang data na available from the government pertaining to the accomplishments on the war on drugs, ngayon mag-present siya na 1% lang ng drugs at drug money ang naconfiscate. Saan galing yung data nya?” Dela Rosa said.
He said the Vice President could just be picking data that would destroy the administration.
“Baka ang pinipili lang niya na data ay ‘yung nakakasira sa gobyerno at ayaw n’ya ng data na gumaganda ang imahe ng gobyerno like doon sa iniinsist niya sa abroad na mahigit 20k na ang EJK (extrajudicial killings) victims sa war on drugs at ayaw niyang tanggapin ang real numbers na 6k plus deaths from the government,” he said.
He added Robredo also showed her ignorance when she complained why users and pushers are lumped in the same rehabilitation centers.
“(It) shows her ignorance on the drug problem. Paanong hindi sila isinama sa isang rehab center eh pareho silang adik? Hindi ba nya alam na ang pusher ay user din? Kaya karamihan ng adik nagpupush ng droga to sustain their need to use drugs. Kaya magkasama sila sa rehab because they need the same treatment for addiction,” he said.
Senator Panfilo Lacson said he would not call the campaign as a failure but “it has not been successful enough.”
“I already said earlier that there may be a need to shift the focus on the supply side more than the demand side or what we call the low-life street pushers. Their apprehension should be directed at going after their big suppliers rather than gloat about it as an accomplishment by the police and other drug enforcement operatives,” he said.
He added intelligence, being the prime mover of all law enforcement operations should be given utmost priority and a no-mercy policy against corrupt anti-drug law enforcement operatives must be implemented immediately.
“Having said that, the war against illegal drugs is a continuing fight and therefore, I would rather say, it has not been successful enough rather than call it a failure,” said Lacson, also a former PNP chief.
For his part, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said running the country is more than just fighting drugs.
“There are other issues requiring the President’s attention like fighting injustice and inequity, fighting inflation, fighting terrorism, fighting corruption, among others. Hence the President should remain as President and delegate the war on drugs to his most trusted (in competence) law enforcer and drug war strategist,” he said.
However, he agrees that the government should go after the big time suppliers and manufacturers.
“Who are these people bringing in the massive quantities of illegal drugs into our country? From what countries are these drugs coming? Have we requested these countries to supervise their territory in order to prevent the shipment of drugs to PH? Enforce all of our existing laws against all of those who violate them. But the best men/women must be assigned to solve the problem of supply,” he said.
