SENATOR Panfilo Lacson lauded President Rodrigo Duterte in his strong campaign against illegal drugs, saying drug-free Philippines has now become a big possibility under the current administration.
According to Lacson, the present leadership has shown strong determination to stop illegal drugs and its good momentum has reportedly resulted in hundreds of thousands of so-called surrenderees admitting and submitting themselves to proper authorities.
However, Lacson noted that 170 out of 520 suspected drug pushers or users in a month's time were actually victims of summary executions.
"Murder is murder. During my time as police chief, I find it very alarming kapag umabot na sa sampu ang namamatay without knowing who is behind the killing. This will bring a chilling effect to the citizenry. We should not encourage the spate of salvaging," Lacson told reporters.
Earlier, Lacson opposed the Senate dipping its hands in the investigation on extrajudicial killings.
But he urged the present leadership to assign the proper department to investigate those killed in anti-drug police operations.
"To drag down the whole PNP (Philippine National Police) and the present leadership and be investigated on account of these alleged summary killings could deter the police from proceeding further. We have a good momentum in the fight against illegal drugs," he said.
"It is good to note that there were at least 120,000 alleged drug pushers and users who submitted themselves and it is unprecedented plus a good number had been arrested, which is about more than 3,000 but we should not allow killing for no clear reason," Lacson said, as he cited the 170 unsolved murder cases.
Lacson also said the President was misinformed when he branded as "drama" during his State of the Nation Address a picture of a woman carrying her dead husband on her lap, which looked like the La Pieta sculpture.
"That is one best example because that was not on account of a police operation. According to reports, the victim was killed by motorcycle-riding men who remain unidentified," Lacson said.
But Lacson was also quick to explain that the public is seemingly quiet as there was no public outcry because of desperation.
He admitted that the problem of illegal drugs has grown so widespread and the steps should be drastic to solve this.
Lacson expressed hope that this will merit the attention of the proper authorities like the PNP and the Defense Department to make sure that the citizenry are safe from those who are taking advantage of the situation.
source: Sun Star Philippines