Imee Marcos against 'tokhang' style anti-drug campaign

Reelectionist Senator Imee Marcos on Friday expressed opposition to the "tokhang" style implementation of the government's anti-drug campaign.

Oplan Tokhang was part of the police’s anti-drugs campaign during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte. It included going door-to-door to "knock and plead" with people to stop using illegal drugs.

Imee said it was better to focus on big-time drug traffickers and the rehabilitation of the drug users.

"Palagay ko, ayaw na natin nyan. Hindi [ako] pabor, pero tutukan natin ang mga big time, ang mga source, at yung [rehabilitation]," Imee said in dzBB's 'Ikaw na ba? The Senatorial Interviews'.

The Duterte administration's war on drugs resulted in the death of thousands of mostly poor Filipinos, with even the government's official tally placing the number of the dead at more than 6,000. 

Marcos has been defending the former president against the International Criminal Court's investigation into the past administration's bloody drug war.

While she opposes Tokhang, Marcos said she is in favor of death penalty for heinous crimes, noting that she has authored a bill on capital punishment.

The reelectionist senator also expressed openness to the legalization of medical marijuana, saying it is already "high time."

Should marijuana be legalized for medicinal purposes, Marcos said the government should ensure strict regulations on its production.

Although coming from a strong and famous political family, Marcos said she is in favor of the enactment of a law against political dynasties.

She noted that even though there were provisions in the law on Sangguniang Kabataan, political dynasties were still not completely prohibited.

In line with this, Marcos said she is in favor of amending the 1987 Constitution not only for economic provisions but also the political ones.

"Idaan sa tamang proseso. 'Wag na tayong ipokrito. Kung papalitan ang Konstitusyon, idamay na ang pulitika hindi lang economic," she said.

To recall, Marcos was among the senators who strongly opposed the controversial people's initiative in 2024.

On publicizing the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, Marcos said it should be like a selfie "clear and without filter."

Meanwhile, Marcos said she opposes divorce. Instead of legalizing it, the reelectionist senator said legal separation should be expanded, simplified, and made accessible to the poor.

She also raised the need to bring back the tariff on rice from 15% to 35%, saying this measure was not effective in lowering the market prices of the country's staple food.

"May dahilan na talagang ibalik na natin [ang dating taripa]. Hindi nag-wo-work ang taripa. Talagang sinasamantala lang tayo ng ibang bansa at siguro may mga trader na talagang taking advantage nitong emergency," she said.

Earlier, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s Executive Order 62, which lowered the tariff on imported rice from 35% to 15%, did not lead to a reduction in rice prices as anticipated.—LDF, GMA Integrated News

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