NEW YORK, USA — For what seems to be the first time, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. publicly spoke about how his administration will handle the country's illegal drug problem, which is to focus more on prevention and cure instead of just enforcement.
Marcos said this as he noted the alleged human rights abuses under the drug war of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a short interview with former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for the Asia Society forum here in New York on September 23, Marcos said the drug war would not stop, but it should be reexamined, and the administration should "learn lessons from the experience" of his predecessor.
"Enforcement, which has been the part of the drug war that has been most vigorously pursued by President Duterte, only gets you so far," he said.
"My approach is slightly different. Perhaps we should look instead of just enforcement — which will continue but in a more focused way — let us also look at prevention," he added.
Citing statistics that there are close to 4.5 million drug addicts in the Philippines, Marcos said it was essential to educate the youth that drugs will get them nowhere.
"It will get you in jail. It will get you killed. And even if it does not do that, this will take away your future," he said.
The President added that the country should be more sensitive and sympathetic to those caught up in this lifestyle.
"We are trying to learn which are the best methods now to pull them (drug dependents) out of that culture and to help them start again and live a good life as good and constructive members — contributing members of society," he said.
What about enforcement?
Meanwhile, Marcos said enforcement of anti-drug laws would continue but noted that he is not interested in the small fry.
"I simply told them (the law enforcers), 'I'm not interested in the kid who makes 100 pesos a week selling weed. That's not the person that I want you to go after,'" he said.
"I want you to go after people who — if we get them, if we neutralize them, or put them in jail, we put them away, whatever it is — will make an actual difference so that the supply of drugs, the system of distribution, the system of importation of drugs because much of it really does come from abroad," he added.
According to the President, doing this will make a difference and eventually stop the drug trade.