Poe: Better rehab program, swifter justice needed amid anti-drug campaign 

Senator Grace Poe on Friday stressed the need to improve the country's rehabilitation program for drug users and ensure that drug-related cases are resolved immediately.

In an interview on GMA News TV's "News To Go" program, Poe noted that the Duterte administration is just in its first few months and yet there have already been an influx of drug-related killings and voluntary surrender of users and pushers.

Poe cited data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) showing that since the start of the Duterte administration, more than 600 people have been killed vigilante-style, while another 500 were killed in supposed legitimate arrest-related incidents.

"Alam mo, parang ang tagal-tagal na kung iisipin mo pero tatlong buwan pa lamang ang administrasyon na ito. Yun ang nakakalungkot aminin sa ating bansa na napakabagal talaga ng hustisya," Poe said in the television interview.

Poe said of the 500 arrest-related killings, only more than 10 cases have been filed, and none have been resolved yet.

She said while some of those killed might have really resisted arrest, "sa tingin ko mayroon din mga pagdududa sa iba."

This prompted Poe to require the PNP to submit to the Senate its investigation reports on the incidents.

"Nandoon na tayo kung matagal man ang imbestigasyon. Pero sana may imbestigasyon talaga. Ang pinaka ayaw nating mangyari sa ating bansa ay mamamatay na lang ang isang tao at hindi na natin malalaman kung ano na ang nangyayari," she said.

Poe also noted that the existing rehabilitation centers in the country could not accommodate the sudden surge in drug-related voluntary surrender.

"Itong kampanya na ito laban sa iligal na droga, kakaumpisa pa lamang ng ating administrasyon at napakaraming natakot kaya sumusuko nga," she said.

The lawmaker stressed the need for government to parter with schools and the private sector to address the lack of drug rehabilitation facilities.

Poe noted that even government's laboratories are probably likewise swamped with work due to the spate of killings and voluntary surrender.

"Kaya nga ang mga laboratory na pang-investigate katulad ng Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), siguro talagang punong-puno na sila ngayon ng trabaho. Kaya nga sabi ko nga, hihingi kami ng kopya ng update dito sa mga imbestigation na ito," said Poe.

Poe was among the senators who quizzed law enforcement authorities during a Senate inquiry by the committee on public order and dangerous drugs.

Joining her in the inquiry were committee chairperson Sen. Panfilo Lacson, and Senators Leila de Lima, Risa Hontiveros, Manny Pacquiao, and Richard Gordon.

De Lima is set to conduct her own Senate inquiry on drug-related killings on Monday and Tuesday next week. — VVP, GMA News