Isko Manila Mayor and presidential candidate Isko Moreno and running mate Doc Willie Ong were welcomed to Taguig by Mayor Lino Cayetano, who expressed full support to the tandem. Photo by JERRY S. TAN

Doc Willie: Rehab needed in war on drugs

February 20, 2022 Marlon Purification 486 views

MAYOR Isko Moreno Domagoso’s running mate and Aksyon Demokratiko vice presidential bet Dr. Willie Ong on Sunday urged the government to adopt a public health approach in its war against illegal drugs.

In a statement, Ong said drug addiction is a public health issue, citing various studies and reports that attest to the “chronic and relapsing nature” of substance abuse.

“Sa war on drugs, kailangang-kailangan ‘yung rehabilitation, ‘yung tulong sa mga drug dependents na between 2 to 3 million and estimate sa ngayon. Dapat po science-based din ang approach sa drug users,” the 58-year old cardiologist and internist said.

“Kailangan natin ng psychiatrist, psychologist. Kailangan din may access sa gamot para hindi na sila bumalik, addiction po ‘yan eh. Apektado ang utak ng users,” Ong pointed out.

Moreno, the Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer, had said in previous statements that he will continue the war on drugs without the use of extra-judicial killings (EJKs) that characterized the Duterte administration’s “Drug War.”

“Eliminating drugs is a priority, but it has to be done in recognition still of every individual’s human rights. There are no EJKs in Manila. Unless the suspects threatened the lives of our policemen, the suspects were properly apprehended and that their human rights were respected in the process of the entire drug operations,” Moreno had said.

Ong, the only medical doctor among the vice presidential bets, said many countries around the world focused on the criminal aspect of drug addiction, which eventually led to the failure of their respective anti-illegal drug policies.