'Eradicate source of illegal drugs in Davao,' Barbers tells lawmen
At A Glance
- Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has told law enforcers to get rid of the source of the illegal drugs in Davao City.
Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (left), Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte (Facebook)
Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has told law enforcers to get rid of the source of the illegal drugs in Davao City.
This, after Barbers frowned on Monday, June 2 over reports that 37 personnel from Davao City’s Public Safety and Security Office tested positive for illegal drugs.
“Even Davao City, where the number one enemy of illegal drugs resides, was not spared. This shows us that the problem is indeed serious and the solution is not a walk in the park," he said in a statement.
“As chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, i call on the PNP (Philippine National Police) and PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) to deeply get involved and eradicate the source of the illegal drugs in Davao City. Spare no one and leave no stone unturned in getting to the bottom of this mess,” Barbers said.
Incumbent Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte is the son of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration was known for its aggressive war on illegal drugs.
The elder Duterte was himself a former local government unit (LGU) head, being a multi-term Davao mayor.
“I understand this problem very well. I was once governor of my province. I know where the local authorities are standing right now and the pressure they are in," Barbers said.
"I will gladly share to them any information that may come my way as chairman of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs. Fighting this together in a united front is the only way to succeed,” the veteran congressman from Mindanao said.
Barbers also warned the drug syndicates that their days are numbered. “If these syndicates think that they can bribe all of us, they are terribly mistaken."
"I call on the government to immediately revive the death penalty and send these syndicates to the gallows," he said.
"We have to take a whole of the nation approach and everyone’s help is encouraged. This bold display of arrogance by these drug syndicates is indicative of their mistaken confidence that they can bribe their way in and out of our system,” Barbers said.