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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sotto pushes for creation of Presidential Drug Enforcement Authority

Sotto pushes for creation of Presidential Drug Enforcement Authority

Published Aug 3, 2025 01:58 pm

At A Glance

  • The Senate Minority Leader said the measure seeks to unify the four major programs in the fight against illegal drugs and drug abuse – enforcement, prosecution, prevention and rehabilitation – under a single government agency to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its mandate.


Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has filed a bill proposing the creation of the Presidential Drug Enforcement Authority to further strengthen the fight against illegal drugs and drug abuse.

Senate Bill No. 190, Sotto said, primarily seeks to amend Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, otherwise known as Republic Act No. 9165, to include the creation of the said agency.

The senator said the measure seeks to unify the four major programs in the fight against illegal drugs and drug abuse – enforcement, prosecution, prevention and rehabilitation – under a single government agency to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its mandate.

“The law, as presently formulated, needs retrofitting, so to speak, like any structure or machine in constant use for 23 years now,” the Senate Minority Leader said.

“Supervision of enforcement activities is desirable to map out policies for more effective anti-illegal drugs campaigns,” he said.

Sotto noted that the war against illegal drugs and drug abuse has failed to adopt a holistic approach.

On the other hand, prevention and rehabilitation of drug addicts – which are equally important – have not been fully implemented by the concerned government agencies, particularly the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Health (DOH).

“It is the goal of every nation and generation to have peace and order to bring out security, harmony and economic stability,” Sotto said.

“All these so we may achieve a drug-free Philippines for the future generations. There is no best time to cure this social illness than now,” the lawmaker stressed.

Related Tags

Tito Sotto PDEA Senate ILLEGAL DRUGS
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