Hilbay kay Bato: Bagsak naman ang war on drugs niyo!

Former Solicitor Generall Florin Hilbay and former PNP Chief Bato Dela Rosa / compiled photo from Google (ctto)

Manila, Philippines - "Your war on drugs has failed", are the words of former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay to fellow senatorial candidate Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who first led the government’s fight against illegal drugs.

During a senatorial forum by CNN Philippines, candidates were asked about President Rodrigo Duterte administration’s war on illegal narcotics, Hilbay said that even after the killings, the country’s drug problem has worsened.

"Walang problema ang Pilipino sa war on drugs. Ang problema ng Pilipino ang walang saysay na patayan," Hilbay said.

"Pagkatapos ng maraming patayan, ang problema ng droga mas malaki pa ngayon. Your war on drugs has failed." the Otso Diretso bet said.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa earlier said the country has a long way to go in solving the drug problem, but the government’s persistence did help a lot.

"Ikompara mo sa previous na administrasyon, malaki na po ang deperensiya. Nitong panahon ni Duterte ang droga imported galing sa China. Pero nung panahon ng ibang presidente, ang droga hindi iniimport, dito mismo ginagawa sa Pilipinas," he said.

While for another Otso  Diretso candidate, Chel Diokno said that authorities should instead focus on drug lords not only in small time dealers.

"We have to be certain those who are doing this are punished. Ba't di nila binubuksan ang mga bank account ng mga drug lord na 'yan. Alam ng pamahalaan kung sino 'yang mga 'yan, ang problema takot," he said.

Samira Gutoc, on the other hand, told Dela Rosa that government should prioritize allotting budget to its prevention programs.

"Ang problema ang drug prevention program nabigyan ba natin ng budget? Nauna tayo sa killing before ng prevention. Bago ka sumawsaw sa war on drugs, sawsawan mo muna yung strengthening the pillars of justice system," she said.

Source: ABS CBN