Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa have vowed to continue former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs as they both committed to the passage of the proposed Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) law.
The passage of the ADAC bill, which seeks to institutionalize the office in ever local government unit (LGU), is already long overdue, Go said.
“Isa po sa adbokasiya ng nakaraang administrasyon ang pag-maintain ng peace and order sa ating bansa (One of the advocacies of the previous administration is to maintain peace and order in the country)...Long overdue na po itong Anti-Drug Abuse Council Law, that seeks to institutionalize Anti-Drug Abuse Councils in every local government unit,” Go said.
“Sang-ayon po ang mga panukalang ito sa hangarin ng ating gobyerno na mapanatili ang peace and order sa ating bansa (this measure conforms to the government’s goal of maintaining peace and order in the country) through the eradication of illegal drugs,” he stressed.
Dela Rosa, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, likewise, urged his colleagues to swiftly pass the measure, saying now is the right time to pass the measure for a drug-free, crime-free Philippines.
“I am confident that all of us – government agencies and LGUs – are one in our commitment to finally live in a drug-free, crime-free Philippines. I believe there is no better time than now. Ipasa na natin ito (Let’s pass this now),” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and who became the chief implementer of the Duterte administration’s controversial anti-illegal drug campaign, said he believes that the bill deliberated in the Senate plenary during the 18th Congress will provide a clear-cut path for its swift passage in the 19th Congress.
“Sayang, konti na lang, batas na sana. Kung may sapat lang tayong oras noong nakaraang Kongreso, naipasa na sana natin ito (The bill could already have been a law. If we had enough time last Congress, we could have already passed this),” Dela Rosa said.
“However, as Chairperson of this Committee, I choose to take a more positive outlook. All our diligence and rigor have not gone to waste; our hard work in the 18th Congress helped make sure that today, in the 19th Congress, we have a more clear-cut path to follow. A clear-cut path that makes way for the swift passage of this measure into law,” Dela Rosa said.
“We have gained so much ground and tactical victories in our war on drugs. Battles are fought in our streets but the halls of the Congress can provide our law enforcement additional weapons to win this war,” the senator said.