Malacañang said yesterday the government would be willing to help celebrities using illegal drugs to rehabilitate themselves should they ask for their help.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police expressed that they are in favor of releasing the names of celebrities with links to illegal drugs.
Reports about celebrities linked to illegal drugs surfaced after the PDEA was able to gun down businessman Steve Pasion, an alleged big time party drugs supplier for celebrities and models, in a buy-bust operation early this month.
According to Panelo, the government will certainly help everyone those in need, especially those who are willing to get past their drug addiction.
“There is a two-pronged approach to solving the drug industry in this country. One is to dismantle the apparatus; and No. 2, to rehabilitate those who have been addicted in the same,” he said. “Well, the help would be extended to them if they ask for it. They are willing to rehabilitate themselves,” he added.
Panelo has advised the still unnamed celebrities to rehabilitate themselves instead of risking their fans and careers.
The Palace official had earlier said that President Duterte will carefully weigh all considerations before deciding on whether or not to release the list of celebrities linked to illegal drugs.
Panelo, however, said he is unsure whether those celebrities who volunteered to undergo rehabilitation will be removed from the list.
“Iyan ang hindi ko alam. Kasi the decision to release will be depend on the President again. He will be weighing all considerations,” Panelo said when asked if there is a possibility that names can be removed from the list.
Panelo agreed that there should be an updated figure on the number of drug addicts in the country.
While unsure if there is an updated count, the Palace official said the assumption is there is since that is the job of the Dangerous Drugs Board.
“And that is the part of job of the Dangerous Drug Board. They’re supposed to receive information coming from PDEA, from PNP. I think it’s a matter of asking it to release whatever information they have,” Panelo said.
“If you’re involved in the law enforcement with respect to drugs, then you must have some statistics as to how many are involved, how many have been addicted, how many have been arrested, how many have been charged,” he added.
“That’s part of territory of every law enforcement agency assigned to that.” (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)