Kit Belmonte hits Bong Go for discounting Robredo report on drug war

Quezon City Representative Kit Belmonte on Wednesday hit Senator Bong Go for discounting the findings of Vice President Leni Robredo with regards to the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

In a statement, Belmonte, who serves as secretary-general of the Liberal Party, said Go was right in saying that the drug menace cannot be curbed with mere statements, but it likewise cannot be solved with relentless killings.

This was the reason, he added, why the Vice President offered concrete recommendations on how to address the drug problem, which includes targeting big-time suppliers, supporting drug prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration programs, and doing away with Oplan Tokhang.

In reacting to Robredo's findings, Go said the better judge of the campaign against illegal drugs were the Filipino people.

He added that there may be something wrong with Robredo's standards in giving the government's drug campaign a score of 1 over 100.

The senator said he believes the government should continue with what it has been doing in relation to the war on drugs.

“Let me reiterate: Hindi po madadaan sa salita lamang ang laban sa iligal na droga. Dapat takutin, dapat handang pumatay ng masama para sa kabutihan ng mga inosenteng Pilipinong apektado dito,” Go said.

“Noong umupo si Pangulong Duterte, nawala na ang mga ‘tiangge’ na nagbebenta ng iligal na droga. Dahil maraming takot mamatay, maraming piniling magbagong buhay. Nasa datos rin iyan ng PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) at PNP (Philippine National Police)," he said.

But Belmonte said the truth cannot be overturned by mere exchange of words.

"One percent lang ng supply ng droga ang nahuli sa loob ng tatlong taon. One percent ang naging katumbas ng, ayon sa datos nila mismo, mahigit 6,000 patay," Belmonte said.

"Malinaw naman po dapat sa lahat — at nilinaw ni VP Leni sa kanyang report—na may mali sa mga hakbang nitong huling tatlong taon," he added.

Belmonte said that if Go and the Duterte administration were serious in solving the drug problem, then they would accept the truth and consider a policy change.

"Ititigil nila ang walang-habas na pagpatay, dahil malinaw na hindi ito ang solusyon sa droga," he said.

"Hindi sila magbubulag-bulagan, at hindi nila ibabaling muli sa politika ang napakaseryosong mga findings ng ulat ni VP Leni," he added.

Sought for comment, Go said killing drug suspects is not the policy of the Duterte administration.

“Kaklaruhin ko rin na hindi naman polisiya ng administrasyong Duterte na pumatay nang basta basta lamang. Nilalabanan natin ang masasamang loob para protektahan ang mga inosente na nasisira o binabawian ng buhay dahil sa iligal na droga,” he said in a message to GMA News Online.

He also dared the critics to talk to the people on the ground.

“Para sa mga kritiko, sana kaysa puro satsat lang, alamin ninyo ang tunay na sitwasyon sa baba at intindihin ninyo why majority of Filipinos feel safer now with the continuing war against illegal drugs,” he said.

“Subukan ninyong bumaba sa mga komunidad. Kayo ang humarap sa mga adik at drug lord. Subukan ninyong kausapin ng maayos at tingnan natin kung kaya ninyong pumatay o mamatay para sa ipinaglalaban ninyo,” he added.

He said the critics should go to the families whose members got addicted to illegal drugs.

“Harapin rin ninyo ang mga kawawang mga pamilya na nawasak dahil nalulong sa droga o naging biktima ng karahasan ang mga kapamilya dahil sa mga sira ulong lulong sa droga. Kaya ninyo tanungin sarili ninyo, kung paano ninyo mareresolba ang problema ng hindi handang pumatay para sa kabutihan ng nakararami,” Go said.—Erwin Colcol and Amita Legaspi/KG/LDF, GMA News