Drug war a failure – Robredo
Credit to Author: THE MANILA TIMES| Date: Mon, 06 Jan 2020 05:21:16 +0000
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo claimed that the government’s “war on drugs” was a failure as she shared on Monday her recommendations and report on her 18-day stint as co-chairman of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).
Robredo said that among her “discoveries” was that only 1 percent of the estimated consumption of illegal drugs had been seized in the past three and a half years despite the killing of thousands of drug suspects.
The report showed that out of the estimated 156,000 kilograms (kg) of shabu consumption in a year, only 1,053.91 kg or 0.68 percent was seized in 2017, 785.31 kg or 0.50 percent in 2018, and 1,344.87 kg or 0.86 percent from January to October 2019.
Robredo stressed that the focus of the program had been on street-level operations against small-scale drug pushers and users instead of pursuing the large-scale sources of illegal drugs.
She also reiterated the need to shift from “Oplan Tokhang” to a more comprehensive strategy. Among her recommendations was the transfer of the leadership of the ICAD to the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) to shift the focus from mere law enforcement to a wider perspective.
She said the DDB had the responsibility and mandate to create policies in the overall program against illegal drugs and can harmonize all agencies including justice, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
Robredo said her office has submitted a copy of her report to the President. DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ