SEN. Ronald dela Rosa yesterday described the country’s drug situation under the Marcos administration as “worse” compared during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte, pointing out that illegal drugs can now be freely bought like candies on the streets.
Dela Rosa said that based his assessment when he compared the anecdotes during the Duterte administration’s war on drug against the current administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign, he learned that illegal drugs have found their way back on the streets unlike during the past administration.
He said that many people have approached him to say that street drug pushing has again become rampant, adding that pushers are now reportedly selling illegal drugs openly.
“Malala! Tanungin mo ang mga barangay kapitan. Pumunta ka doon sa ground… Wala na kaming marinig na barangay kapitan na magsabi na ‘Sir, okay ang aming situwasyon sa drugs, perfect na, wala ng problema (It’s worse! Go to the streets and ask barangay captains… We did not hear a barangay captain who said that their drug situation is ‘okay, perfect, we do not have problems on illegal drugs),” Dela Roa said.
He said an iron fist approach against illegal drugs should be implemented by the Marcos administration like what he did when he was the PNP chief.
It was during Dela Rosa’s term that “Oplan Tokhang” was introduced. He reiterated that he does not regret implementing Duterte’s drug war, saying that his primary concern at the time was the welfare of the youth.
Dela Rosa said law enforcers would be encouraged to double their efforts in intensifying the fight against illegal drugs if they get the backing of the President.
“Huwag tayong pa petiks-petiks lang, dapat seryosohin natin. At kapag tinanong ko ang mga kapulisan ngayon, they’re willing to bet their life diyan sa giyera provided na may backup sa Malacañang (Let us not put our guards down, we must be serious in this campaign. The cops I have talked to said they are willing to put their lives at stake in the campaign against illegal drugs as long as Malacañang will back them up),” he said.
The six years of the Duterte administration led to the deaths of more than 6,000 drugs users and pushers; arrest of around 300,000 individuals; and surrender of more than 1.6 million individuals.
Dela Rosa and Duterte have been charged with crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court as a result of the past administration’s war on drugs.