Bato dela Rosa: Duterte drug war not selective in implementing law

While he hoped for the success of the Philippine National Police's new anti-drug campaign strategy, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa recalled that the war on drugs during the previous administration was not "selective" in implementing the law.

The former PNP chief-turned-lawmaker made the remark in reaction to PNP's recalibration of its anti-illegal drugs strategy which now targets the sources and supply chains of illegal drugs instead of street-level pushers and users.

"We didn’t discriminate as to who we are going to arrest in our war on drugs. We were not selective in the implementation of the Dangerous Drugs Act. All violators of the law-- drug lords, drug pushers, drug traffickers, drug users were targeted in our anti-drug operations," Dela Rosa said in a text message.

"I wish them good luck. I hope and pray that they will succeed," he added.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III welcomed the new strategy of the PNP as this will target drug lords.

"I agree and support this 'new strategy.' From the start, we should have focused on the supply chain given that the raw materials for shabu and cocaine mostly come from abroad and I have always questioned why the PNP catches only the petty pushers and not a single (or several) big drug lord/s," Escudero said.

Should the PNP succeed in this, Escudero said it will make the supply of drugs scarce and price prohibitive for new and old users and lower the prevalence of drugs and the number of drug users in the country.

Pimentel, for his part, said that the approach is "correct."

"Correct 'yan [That's correct]. Target the 'suppliers.' D'yan mahahanap ang tunay na drug lords [That way, we can really go after the drug lords]," he said.

Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros, for her part, hoped that this new strategy will be "more humane."

"Napatunayan na ng kasaysayan na hindi epektibo ang Oplan Tokhang. Umaasa ako na magiging mas matibay at mas makatao ang pagpapatupad ng bagong stratehiya na ito na matagal nang dapat pinagtuunan ng pansin. Patuloy din kaming magbabantay sa pagpapatupad nito," Hontiveros said.

[History sa proven that Oplan Tokhang was not effective. I hope that this new strategy would be more humane. We would also be vigilant in seeing how this is being implemented.]

The lawmaker reiterated the need for a comprehensive and holistic strategy against the drug problem in the country.

"Solving a problem of this magnitude requires a comprehensive, holistic strategy. Targeting dealers and syndicates is just one aspect, it’s also crucial to address the demand side through harm reduction, treatment, and prevention," she said.

Apart from a rules-based and modern strategy against illegal drugs, Hontiveros noted the need to include the public health approach in addressing the problem.

Criminals on the streets

Meanwhile, Senator Robin Padilla said the important thing is to remove the criminals on the streets.

"Ang mahalaga sa [taumbayan] ay 'wag maagaw muli ng mga siga, tamad, lasenggo at mga kriminal ang mga kalsada. Simple lang ang hinihingi ng [taumbayan] law and order," Padilla said.

[What's important to the public is that drunkards, bullies and criminals would not lord it over our streets. What the public wants is law and order.]

On Sunday, PNP chief Pol. Gen. Rommel Marbil announced that they will focus on high-value drug personalities and the movements of illegal drugs across the country.

He said that "these are the real targets" and not the street-level pushers and users "who are often victims of circumstance."

According to the PNP, the recalibrated approach was designed to be a “more effective and less bloody campaign” by putting more value on human rights and addressing the drug problem at its very core.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. himself had said that he is opposed to handling the drug menace with violence, as compared to his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who is known for his bloody war on drugs.

In his third State of the Nation Address, Marcos touted his administration's campaign against illegal drugs, declaring that it did not include killing suspects.

Despite this "bloodless" drug war, the President said his administration's campaign has resulted in the seizure of P44 billion worth of illegal drugs and the arrest of more than 97,000 drug personalities in its more than 71,500 operations. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News