SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, on Friday, October 21, reminded authorities anew to sustain the gains made by the Duterte Administration in the fight against illegal drugs and criminality.

“Alam n’yo, ayaw nating sayangin ‘yung inumpisahan ni (dating) pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Inumpisahan niya noon na labanan ang iligal na droga, labanan ang korapsyon sa gobyerno, at labanan ang kriminalidad,” said Go in an ambush interview after personally aiding residents in Mandaue City, Cebu.

Go pointed out the connection between the problems of drugs, crime and corruption, highlighting the need to step up efforts to combat these social ills.

“Alam n’yo, ‘pag bumalik ang droga, babalik ang korapsyon sa gobyerno. Makukorap (ang sistema) eh. ‘Pag bumalik ang droga, babalik ang kriminalidad. Iyon ang kinakatakutan po natin at ayaw nating mangyari,” said Go.

Earlier, the senator filed in the 19th Congress bills establishing mandatory drug rehabilitation centers nationwide, providing a Magna Carta for the officers and personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and free legal assistance to uniformed personnel, and institutionalizing a comprehensive national grassroots sports program.

Under his Senate Bill No. 428, a drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation center shall be established in every province, under the supervision of the Department of Health.

He also filed SBN 419 which will provide PDEA employees with better terms of employment and career opportunities through a more thorough and comprehensive career development program, with proper training to enhance their knowledge, competence, transparency, respect for human dignity and commitment to service.

Meanwhile, under his SBN 422, any officer or enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police, who is facing before the prosecutor’s office, court or any competent body, any charge arising from an incident related to the performance of official duty shall be entitled to free legal assistance.

Go then said he is confident that the Marcos Administration will continue former president Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs and criminality.

“At masaya naman po ako na nabanggit ni Pangulong (Ferdinand) Marcos (Jr.) na ipagpatuloy niya na labanan ang iligal na droga dahil salot talaga itong iligal na droga sa buhay natin,” said Go.

“‘Pag mayroon pong biktima ng iligal na droga sa pamilya, sira na po ang pamilya. Iiwan ninyo ang pitaka ninyo diyan, nanakawin ang pera, ibibili ng droga. Kaya dapat hindi bumalik ang iligal na droga,” he added.

The senator also cited his continuing advocacy of promoting sports as a way to combat said issues in the country.

“Kaya isa sa paraan na i-engganyo ko po ang mga kabataan natin to get into sports, stay away from drugs. Ilibang na lang natin sila – basketball, volleyball, o anuman sa larangan ng palakasan para mailayo sila sa iligal na droga,” he said.

Go introduced SBN 423 or his proposed Philippine National Games (PNG) Act of 2022 to ensure a more inclusive system of promoting promising Filipino athletes who possess potential in every field of sports and giving them an equal opportunity of becoming future contenders in international sporting competitions to cement the country’s status as a “Sports Powerhouse in Asia”.