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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bato: Law enforcement sector has strong opposition to decriminalizing drug use

Bato: Law enforcement sector has strong opposition to decriminalizing drug use

Published Nov 26, 2022 04:23 pm

There is a strong opposition from the law enforcement sector on proposals to decriminalize the use of illegal drugs because it would send wrong signals that illegal drug abuse is now allowed, particularly by the youth, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said.

On the other hand, the Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee is weighing the stand of the Department of Health (DOH) and other sectors that favor the decriminalization proposal by declaring drug users as victims and thus must be placed in rehabilitation centers.

‘’Meron tayo mantra - save the user, jail the pusher - so more on pagtingin natin sa drug problem is health concern or health issue rather than criminality issue (We have the mantra - save the user, jail the pusher - and I will look at the drug problem as a health concern or health issue rather than criminality issue),’’ Dela Rosa, committee chairman, said during a DWIZ radio interview Saturday, Nov. 26.

With the opposition from the law enforcement sector, it is best for the committee to suspend its committee on a drug-related bill, he added.

Dela Rosa, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, said the pause in the legislative process is needed because he does not want to be blamed in the event that illegal drug addition and juvenile delinquency might get worse.

‘’With the recent opposition from law enforcement, sabi ko suspend muna hearing kasi debate yan pagdating dyan, maghearing pa tayo ulit (I say we suspend committee hearings because it would end up in a debate..then we resume committee hearing),’’ he added.

The law enforcement sector is composed of the PNP, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

Dela Rosa said his committee would undertake a last hearing to hear the points of view of others, including those from the DOH and Senator Robinhoon Padilla who are pushing for the rehabilitation of drug users, not imprisonment.

The proposed measure, a collection of amendments of Republic Act (RA) 10591, requires fine-tuning because there would be no more need for a court order to order the commitment of a user to a rehabilitation center.

Asked to comment that the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) favors decriminalization of drug use, Dela Rosa said he does not care what the CHR likes.

‘’Basta ako i will do what i think is right. di ko iniisip na magpabango, wala ako pakialam kung magalit sila o hindi, pero yun nga malakas ang opposition ng law enforcement kaya papakinggan ko sila (I don’t care whether they get angry or not but I would hear the loud opposition from the law enforcement sector),’’ he added.

Dela Rosa stressed that drug users need to be hanged because they profit from the destruction of the lives of drug users.

He said he favors public execution by firing squad of drug pushers or drug lords ‘’para makita ng maraming tao para matatakot sila nagagawin dito yan sa Pilipinas (so that people will witness it and be afraid not to do it in the Philippines),’’ he emphasized.

Dela Rosa stressed that a move to reduce drug supply is one important aspect in the fight against the multi-billion-peso illegal drug trade.

‘’Being Filipino who is committed to my advocacy dito ang mabubuhay at mamamatay sa laban sa droga di ko ito aatrasan (Being a Filipino, I will not back away from my advocacy against illegal drug use),’’ he said.

Related Tags

robinhood padilla 112622 decriminalizing Ronald Bato dela Rosa illegal drugs doh
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