Let Filipinos be the judge of President Duterte’s relentless war against illegal drugs.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go issued the statement as former President Benigno ‘’Noynoy’’ Aquino III joined the political opposition in criticizing the President’s drug campaign.
Aquino had asked why President Duterte appointed Vice President Leni Robredo as drug czar if he does not trust her.
Go defended the President, saying that Robredo was appointed so she could have the opportunity for resolving the drug problem herself after she referred to the drug war as “a dismal failure”.
He said the President decided to give Robredo a chance to help in the campaign.
Go also responded to Aquino’s criticisms, saying that he had his chance to curb the drug problem during his time in office.
“Alam niyo dating Pangulong Aquino, dumaan na po ang panahon ninyo na dapat noon niyo na sinugpo itong iligal na drogang ito. Dumami ang mga adik, dumami ang mga sindikato, dumami ang drug lord nung panahon mo,” Go said.
“Ngayon po, si Pangulong Duterte pilit niyang sugpuin ito bagama’t napakahirap po ay hindi po makakatulong ang iyong komento. Isa ka sa nagpadagdag niyan,” he added.
Go also said that Filipinos should be the judge if the government’s efforts to fight drugs is a success or not.
He said the President’s drug war is not a failure given the fact that 82 percent of Filipinos favor the current drug campaign.
Go, a former Special Assistant to the President (Duterte), said Filipinos now feel safe walking on the streets even at night. Parents no longer worry about their children coming from schools at night because they are now safe.
He also emphasized that the priority of the Duterte Administration is to go after criminals in order to protect the innocent from the harm caused by illegal drugs.
“Sabi niya failure daw at gusto niya proteksyunan ang mga inosenteng kriminal. May inosente bang kriminal?” he added.
“Kaya nga kriminal e. Kaya nga kriminal, kriminal na utak niyan. Wala nang pakialam ‘yan. Wala nang pakialam sa kapwa Pilipino,” he added.
The government is committed to prioritize the lives of innocent citizens victimized by drug criminals, he stressed.
“Alam niyo, ‘pag pumasok ka diyan sa droga, sira ulo ka na talaga. Hindi na normal ‘yung pag-iisip mo. Wala ka ng pakialam kung sino ‘yung masasaktan mo. So unahin natin, proteksyunan natin ang mga inosenteng Pilipino na gustong mamuhay nang tahimik,” he added.
Thus, Robredo, being the country’s drug czar, must put the lives of the innocent first and protect them from being victimized by drug-related crimes, he added. (Mario Casayuran)
