While law enforcement authorities are primarily responsible for the crackdown on the illegal drugs trade, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said that it is everyone’s concern to monitor their efforts and do their part in complimenting them.
“It is a shared responsibility. We all have individual responsibilities if we want to put a stop to the illegal drugs problem. There’s a certain amount of personal risk. But if we run away from our responsibilities, how can beat a problem as big as this? We have a responsibility to the society, whether it is media, law enforcement, or ordinary citizens. We have to think about our responsibility to benefit future generations,” Lacson said.
“Sa simpleng pananalita, walang bibili kung walang magbebenta, at walang magbebenta kung walang bibili,” he added.
On the sidelines of a recent illegal drugs destruction ceremony in Cavite, Lacson reminded the Philippine National Police to act with integrity and credibility by doing what he or she says, especially under unguarded and tempting circumstances.
“If a man is truthful and upright in public, but renounces those standards in private, then he lacks credibility because he has no integrity,” Lacson, former PNP chief, said.
“If we intend to remain committed to this cause, we should also fortify parallel efforts to ensure this is not the battle of the PDEA alone or of the PNP alone, but more so by all of us. We should all work together to eliminate this menace by all means necessary, but with proper regard to and complete respect for the individual rights of all concerned, whether they be the one enforcing the law or the one to whom the law is being enforced,” Lacson said. (PNA)