By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday assailed leaders of the government’s war on illegal drugs for failing to consider drug prevention and rehabilitation as solutions to the lingering problem.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III
(CZAR DANCEL / MANILA BULLETIN)
Sotto expressed apparent frustration following the admission of President Duterte of the failing campaign against the illegal drug trade in the country, citing rogue police officers’ links to narcotics activities.
In a tweet Thursday, the Senate chief admitted sounding "like a broken record" as he reiterated his belief that the government's war on drugs will lose without addressing the urge to take the prohibited substance.
“The people in charge are not giving enough attention to the four major concerns of fighting illegal drugs – Enforcement, Prosecution, Prevention, and Rehabilitation. Absence of one will cripple the fight against drugs,” Sotto stressed in his text message to reporters.
“Or, they simply don't know these priorities. Masyadong concentrated sa (They are to concentrated on) enforcement when I keep on saying for years...The day we stop buying is the day they stop selling!” he lamented.
Sotto had earlier urged the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and other concerned agencies to pursue “stronger” and “more serious” preventive education and drug rehabilitation program to reduce the demand for illegal drugs.
On Thursday, he said the failure of the agencies to address this made President Duterte “frustrated.”
The Senate President said he is willing to talk to Duterte or other officials on to discuss his call “if they seek my opinion.”
Sotto was a principal author of the Republic Act 9165 (The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002). He also chaired the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) from June, 2008 to November, 2009.
On Tuesday, Duterte vowed to release documents proving the links of some police officials in illegal drugs. Aside from police, politicians, celebrities, and judges have also been tagged by authorities in the drug trade.
Sotto favored the release of names of those included in the government's drugs watchlist after validation.
“Release them all or at the very least, give their names to their respective leaderships. Judges to the Supreme Court, celebrities to their networks and sponsors, etcetera,” he said.