SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go stressed the need for the government to continue the fight against dangerous drugs and prioritize the safety and welfare of Filipinos as he gave his support for

the plans and programs of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Dangerous Drugs Board.

During a budget hearing held by the Senate Committee on Finance on Wednesday, September 28, Go emphasized that if the problem with dangerous drugs reemerges, then so might the country’s problems with crime and corruption.

“Ganito po yan, pag bumalik po ang iligal na droga, siguradong babalik ang kriminalidad at babalik po ang korapsyon. Alam mo, pag pumasok na yung pera ng iligal na droga, madami na pong nabibili. Mas alam ninyo po yan, mga resource persons. Mas alam ninyo po yung problema sa iligal na droga,” remarked Go.

“So huwag ho natin sayangin. Kami naman po dito ni Chairman Bato (dela Rosa), bilang mga mambabatas, limitado ang aming mga tulong. Pero di kami titigil sa pagtulong po sa inyo at maipagpatuloy po ang kampanya laban sa iligal na droga,” he added.

While the country has done so much since 2016 in the fight against dangerous drugs, Go said that government must not stop and continue what it has started.

“Huwag ho natin sayangin kung ano po yung naumpisahang kampanya laban sa iligal na droga,” urged Go.

“Prayoridad ni dating pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte na labanan ang iligal na droga, kriminalidad at korapsyon. Sana maipagpatuloy natin ang ating kampanya laban sa iligal na droga at kriminalidad,” he added.

The safety of Filipinos must continue to be a top priority, Go stressed, even though the country has made great strides in the fight against illegal drugs.

“Malayo na ang ating narating sa laban na ito. Marami nang nakumpiska, nahuli, napanagot at nagbagong buhay sa nakaraang anim na taon. Marami ring namatay, maraming nagbuwis ng buhay, lalung-lalo na po yung mga nasa law enforcement agencies natin na nagbuwis ng buhay para labanan po itong iligal na droga,” said Go.

“Pero hindi ito ang panahon para magkumpiyansa dahil kinabukasan at kaligtasan ng ating mga anak ang nakasalalay dito sa kampanya laban sa iligal na droga,” he added.

He then expressed his confidence that the PDEA and DDB are “more than up for the challenge” of combatting the country’s drug problem, as they have already exemplified in the past administration.

“The work(s) of the PDEA and the DDB are crucial to our continuing campaign against illegal drugs and criminality,” said Go.

Meanwhile, the senator also agreed with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s push for the drug problem to be addressed through prevention and rehabilitation. He reiterated his steadfast call for a multifaceted strategy to combat the drug problem in the Philippines.

“We must remember that drug users are victims in need of physical, psychosocial, and spiritual help. They can still be productive members of our society, and we must endeavor to take care of them as we do any other Filipino,” said Go.

“Inasmuch as we focus on the law enforcement side of our anti-drug campaign, we must ensure that our efforts on treatment and rehabilitation are just as relentless,” he added.

In relation to this, Go filed Senate Bill 428 that will establish a drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation center in every province.

“Habang hindi pa po ito batas, sana pagtulungan ng DDB at ng DOH (Department of Health) ang operasyon ng mga kasalukuyang rehab centers sa bansa. Marami dito binuksan noong panahon ni dating pangulong Duterte, hindi ko lang po alam kung ano na po nangyari doon sa mga rehab centers natin,” remarked Go.

He then urged the PDEA and the DDB to work closely with the DOH in planning and formulating policies and programs on drug prevention and control, in order for the government to succeed in its efforts against illegal drugs, and to rehabilitate victims of drug addiction.

During the hearing, Go also shared that he filed SBN 419 or the Magna Carta of Benefits for the Officers and Personnel of the PDEA which seeks to recognize the contributions of PDEA officers and personnel who protect the country even as their jobs constantly put them at risk of injury and other serious incidents.

“Mahalaga rin po sa ating mga taga-gobyerno na bigyan ng kahalagahan ang ating anti-drug personnel na walang humpay na nakikipagsapalaran upang matulungan ang bansa natin masugpo ang droga,” noted Go.

“Pagtutulungan po namin ni Senator Bato. Basta magkasama kami ni Chairman Bato na labanan ang iligal na droga, labanan ang kriminalidad, at labanan ang korapsyon,” he added.

Go hopes that with the proposed budgets of the agencies, it will be possible to support and promote the welfare of their officers even though the government has not yet enacted his proposed measure into law.

“Pagtulungan po natin. Ang akin lang po dito is maipagpatuloy ang kampanya laban sa iligal na droga sa iba’t ibang paraan. Kung ano man ang plano ng ating administrasyon sa ngayon, importante po, maipagpatuloy na labanan ang iligal na droga. Dahil mahirap kapag bumalik ang iligal na droga, babalik po ang lahat – kriminalidad, tataas na naman,” reiterated Go.

“Nakakatakot na naman po maglakad sa gabi ang mga anak natin. Wala tayong peace of (mind) pag bumalik na ang durugista, kapag sila na naman po ang maghari sa kalye. Dapat po ang mga adik ang matakot maglakad sa gabi, hindi po yung mga ordinaryong mamamayang Pilipino na gusto lang pong mamuhay ng tahimik,” he concluded.