Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo (Medel V. Hernani/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY — Vice President Leni Robredo said she worries that things might getting out of hand on the government’s anti-drug campaign.
Robredo told Davao Today in an interview during the Social Development Initiatives Summit held here that she has been vocal about her “anxiety” on the issue.
“I’ve been vocal about my anxiety, about my worry that things might be getting out of hand dahil maraming napapabalita na seemingly innocent na nabibiktima (because there are several reports that those who are seemingly innocent become victims in the anti-drug war),” Robredo said Wednesday, August 17.
She said she is unsure whether the number of alleged drug-related personalities killed is because of the campaign’s success or because there are a lot of those who violate the rule of law.
However, Robredo clarified that she supports the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign and said that it is about time that the country deal with the drug problem.
She said she believes the president’s assurance that as a lawyer, he will always uphold the rule of law. She said that the public should also be active in opposing illegal drugs and should not just leave it to the government authorities.
“Wala naman tayong opposition sa drug war. I think it is about time na tutukan ito, at nagpapasalamat tayo kay Presidente na nagkaroon siya ng lakas ng loob na tutukan ito. Pero siguraduhin lang natin na walang lumalabas sa bounds ng rule of law (We don’t oppose the drug war. I think it is about time that we deal with this and we are thankful to the President because he is strong-willed in focusing on the issue. But we have to ensure that we do it within the bounds of the rule of law),” Robredo said.
Department of Justice Secretary Atty. Vitaliano Aguirre, who was also present during the summit, told reporters in an earlier press briefing that there is no need to put up measures in ensuring that the killings will not go out of hand.
“Hindi na po natin kilangan ng measure dito sapagkat alam na natin na nakatatak na po yan sa ating batas, pag ikaw ay sumobra dito, then you will be prosecuted (We do not need a measure for his because we already know that if you violate the law, if you go beyond the law, then you will be prosecuted),” Aguirre said.
He said if anyone has an evidence against anybody for extrajudicial killing it should be reported immediately.
During his speech at the 115th Police Service Anniversary in Camp Crame on Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his campaign promise that he will take control of the drug situation in the country.
Duterte also reiterated his order to the police on how they should carry the anti-drug campaign.
“Do not kill, if you are not in danger of losing your life. But in effecting an arrest, when there is a violent resistance, thereby placing your life in jeopardy, shoot and shoot him dead. Can I be clearer than that?” he said.
He also said that drugs is a health problem with 600,000 estimated number of surrenderees. He said half of those who surrendered is “already beyond rehabilitation”. He said the drug problem in the country is already a “pandemic”.(davaotoday.com)
