Senate President Tito Sotto said yesterday that Vice President Leni Robredo’s assessment that the government’s war on drugs failed was very different and misplaced.
Sotto objected to this finding even as he thought that Robredo presented “some very valid points” in her findings about the drug war.
“No (the drug war is not a failure). ‘Failure’ is only when you stop fighting!” Sotto said.
“Her perspective is very different and misplaced from my experienced fight since 1988,” he also said, recalling his days as Quezon City vice mayor.
Sotto, who led the Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Council, has been urging the government to focus on drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation to stop people from buying prohibited and dangerous substances.
“My experience in Quezon City which was emphasis on prevention brought down the drug statistics from 54 percent prevalence to nine percent in 1992. Ayaw nila makinig sa akin, eh di huwag!” he said.
Sotto did not elaborate on the “valid” observations raised by Robredo but believed her recommendations fell short of recognizing the importance of drug abuse prevention.
“Some very valid points but much like the Executive department, they fail to highlight the main issue of prevention. I keep on harping, ‘the day we stop buying is the day they stop selling!’” he said.
“War versus drugs fails only when you stop fighting. It’s a constant battle versus drug dealers, drug dependents, corrupt officials, and cerebrally challenged critics,” he reiterated.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa questioned Robredo’s findings and claimed that she was being selective.
Dela Rosa was former Philippine National Police chief and the chief implementor of President Duterte’s controversial drug war from July 2016 to April 2018.
“Hindi ko siya (Robredo) maintindihan. Sabi niya walang datos or kulang-kulang ang data na available from the government pertaining to the accomplishments on the war on drugs, ngayon magpresent siya na one percent lang ng drugs at drug money ang na-confiscate. Saan galing ‘yung data niya?” he said.
“Or baka ang pinipili lang niya na data ay ‘yung nakakasira sa gobyerno at ayaw niya ng data na gumaganda ang imahe ng gobyerno, like doon sa iniinsist niya sa abroad na mahigit 20,000 na ang EJK victims sa war on drugs at ayaw niyang tanggapin ang real numbers na 6,000 plus deaths from the government,” he added.
Dela Rosa ranted about Robredo’s “ignorance” on the country’s drug problem.
“When she complained why users and pushers are lumped in the same rehabilitation centers shows her ignorance on the drug problem,” he said. (Vanne Terrazola)