By Vanne Terrazola
Senate President Vicente Sotto III yesterday maintained his support for the government’s efforts to reduce drug dependents in the country.
Contrary to appeals, Sotto, a staunch anti-illegal drug advocate, believes that the government’s war against drugs should not only focus on drug supply, as it would not be effective if “addicts” are not addressed.
“To combat DRUGS, it can’t be all supply reduction, there must be a relentless DEMAND reduction strategy! Useless to remove all drugs supply if there are addicts! They will find other drugs to abuse!” the Senate chief posted on Twitter yesterday morning.
In a separate statement, Sotto explained: “Even if you remove and destroy all the drugs like shabu, marijuana, cocaine, heroine and designer drugs, if there remain drug dependents, there are so many other drugs that can be abused like cough syrup, contact cement, nubaine, regulated and over the counter drugs that can be abused.”
Sotto made the remarks amid the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) proposal to conduct mandatory drug testing among students in Grade 4 onwards, prompting appeals for the government to chase big-time drug syndicates and suppliers instead of children.
“Kung ako ang tatanugin: I will concentrate on the supply of drugs. Go after those manufacturing and/or importing drugs into our country. Go after these big shots! Prevent the importation, manufacture and distrubution of illegal drugs in the country. Go after these syndicates,” Senator Aquilino Pimentel said in a statement Monday.