Vice presidential aspirant and Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Friday, Oct. 8, that he will adopt the approach he implemented during his stint as Quezon City vice mayor to address the Philippines' problem with illegal drugs.
During a consultative meeting in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Sotto said President Duterte's strategy, which concentrates on law enforcement, is no longer effective in stopping the illegal drug trade in the country.
"If you would notice, even if President Duterte is successful in Davao, as far as enforcement of illegal drugs is concerned, for the peace of the nation, hindi puwede (it's still not enough). Hindi kaya, because iba dapat ang approach (It's not effective, because there should be a different approach)," said Sotto.
Despite supporting Duterte's controversial war on illegal drugs -- and even lauding that more suspected drug traders are arrested than killed -- Sotto has also been vocal about what it lacked, particularly in addressing drug abuse.
The Senate chief, who was elected Quezon City vice mayor in 1988, founded and organized the city's anti-drug abuse council.
"My success in Quezon City in bringing down the problem of illegal drugs, from 54 percent for the entire National Capital Region down to nine percent, was anchored on four major concerns: Enforcement, Prosecution, Prevention and Rehabilitation," he said in the meeting with representatives of various sectors in Central Visayas.
"With enforcement and prosecution, you address the supply reduction problem. You address illegal drugs. But, the important thing is also prevention and rehabilitation. You address the problem of drug abuse and that is addressing the demand. There should be a demand reduction strategy na wala tayo sa kasalukuyan (which we do not have at present)," he pointed out.
"What’s happening now in our rehabilitation program is not complete, not at all. May ginawang malaking rehabilitation program sa Nueva Ecija, ano ang laman (They constructed a huge rehabilitation facility in Nueva Ecija, but who's in there)? After a few months wala ng laman (it's all empty)," he further said, referring to the Mega Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center built by the Duterte administration in 2016.
Sotto reiterated that drug dependents will keep looking for alternatives even if sources of the prohibited substances are stopped.
"So, you cannot be successful with enforcement alone with just killing all the pushers, no," he maintained.
Should he win as vice president next year, Sotto said he would carry out a "drug abuse resistance program" to increase awareness among the youth to prevent substance abuse and its effects.
He also seeks to improve the country's rehabilitation program for drug dependents.
"Rehabilitation is not just bringing them into a rehabilitation center. You must profile the drug dependent...You have to study or profile the drug dependent kung anong puwede sa kaniyang program (what program is most appropriate for them)," he said.
"And I think as a Vice President can do that even if the President does not give a job. It’s the best thing that the Vice President can do. The Vice President should not be a spare tire only if you know what to do," said Sotto.
Sotto filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice president last Wednesday, October 6, along with Senator Panfilo Lacson, who will be seeking presidency in the May, 2022 elections.