Bong Go: Will it help if ex-President Duterte is made anti-drug czar?

Senator Bong Go on Tuesday raised the idea of former President Rodrigo Duterte possibly working for the current administration as an anti-drug czar. 

During the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hearing on the P6.7 billion shabu haul in Manila last year, Go asked Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Benjamin Acorda if he thought Duterte would be helpful if ever he would be appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as an anti-drug czar. 

“Kung saka sakali lang…prerogative naman ‘yan ng Presidente, ang appointing authority, kung saka sakali lang, makakatulong ba kung itatalagang drug czar si dating Pangulong Duterte?” Go asked Acorda during the Senate committee hearing on the multi-billion-peso drug haul seized in Manila.

(It’s the prerogative of the President as the appointing authority, but just in case, will it help if former President Duterte is appointed drug czar?) 

In response, Acorda said he would support any step that would help in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. 

“I don’t know if I can comment on that kung ano ang magiging setup [what the setup would be], but anything on the campaign against illegal drugs, I will be supportive,” the PNP chief said. 

Go raised the question after expressing concern that the efforts of the Duterte administration would be put to waste, considering the alleged involvement of some cops in the “recycling” of confiscated drugs.

“Wag nating sayangin ang naumpisahan ni dating Pangulo Duterte na labanan ang iligal na droga. Kapag bumalik ang iligal na droga, alam na natin na babalik ang kriminalidad at babalik ang korupsyon,” he told Acorda. 

(Let's not waste what former President Duterte started to fight against illegal drugs. When illegal drugs return, we know that criminality and corruption will return.) 

Panel chairman Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who served as the chief PNP during the Duterte administration, also aired his frustration against the cops involved. 

He mentioned that his case over the bloody drug war has now reached the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

“Ang kinakasama ng loob ko sa inyo, makinig kayong lahat mga pulis, ako umaabot na ‘yung kaso ko sa ICC dahil sa paglalaban natin sa droga dahil sa ating war on drugs. Tapos kayo pala, pera pera ang iniisip ninyo. Kayo pa ang pasok sa sindikato. Hindi ko masikmura kung ganito ang nangyayari sa kapulisan, sumasama sa sindikato,” dela Rosa said. 

(What I feel bad about is that my case has reached the ICC because of our fight against drugs. Despite this, all you think about is money. You are even in a syndicate. I can't stomach this happening to the police where you join a syndicate.)  —NB, GMA Integrated News