Former police chief and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa proposed the decriminalization of illegal drug use in the country.
Prior to winning a seat in the Senate, Dela Rosa led the bloody war on drugs of the Duterte administration as the chief of the Philippine National Police.
However, he said he is proposing the decriminalization of illegal drug use in the country to decongest the country’s jails.
“Gusto ko nga dahil kasagsagan ng ating war on drugs, nakita natin na punong-puno na ang ating kulungan dahil diyan sa mga drug offenses,” he said via GMA’s Unang Hirit.
“In order to decongest itong mga kulungan, sabi natin, i-decriminalize na lang ‘yan dahil ‘yun namang mga rehabilitation centers natin ay hindi napupuno,” he added.
It was during the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs’ hearing on Tuesday about establishing drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers where the decriminalization topic was raised.
However, law enforcement agencies opposed Dela Rosa’s plan.
“Narinig ko ‘yung kanilang side ay malakas ang kanilang oposisyon. Ayaw na ayaw nila dahil it will send daw a wrong signal doon sa ating mga kabataan na it’s okay to use drugs kasi hindi ka pala makukulong, ire-rehab ka lang,” Dela Rosa said.
— Ronald Espartinez