Press Release
January 7, 2020

Bong Go: People, not Robredo, can tell success of drug war

In response to Vice President Leni Robredo's claim that the government's campaign against illegal drugs is a failure, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go said on Monday, January 6, that the Filipino people should be the better judge.

"Sila ang mga ordinaryong mamamayan natin na direktang nakikinabang. Sila kasi ang nagsasabing mas ligtas sila ngayon kaysa noong panahon ng nagdaang administrasyon," Go said.

Robredo, who acted as the co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) for eighteen days, held a press conference earlier in the day and stated that she would give the government's campaign against illegal drugs a score of 1 over 100.

"Sa kabila ng mga ginawang hakbang ng gobyerno, sa kabila ng walang humpay na kampanya kontra droga, para kay VP Leni ang grado ng gobyerno ay 1/100 lamang. Parang may mali naman sa batayan ng ating Vice President kung ano ang makakabuti sa bayan," Go said.

"Between one person using her own computation giving a grade of 1%, and 79% of Filipinos who said they are satisfied with our campaign, I will choose to believe the latter," he added.

The Senator emphasized that the war on drugs is a continuing effort. "Habang nandyan pa ang mga adik, nandyan ang mga drug lords, nandyan ang kasakiman sa pera, hindi agad-agad mawawala ang supply ng shabu sa bansa. Ito ang rason kung kaya't patuloy ang kampanya ng gobyerno na puksain ito at iligtas ang mga inosenteng nabibiktima ng iligal na droga. Habang tumatagal, mas pinapalakas natin dapat ang kampanyang ito."

He also said that the government must maintain its firm stance. "The war against illegal drugs is a continuing campaign and a relentless one. We will not stop until we put an end to this menace. Hindi po ito madadaan sa salita lamang. Dapat takutin at, kung kailangan, patayin ang masasamang loob para sugpuin ang iligal na droga sa bansa."

He added that the method has been effective. "Noong umupo si Pangulong Duterte, nawala na ang mga 'tiangge' na nagbebenta ng iligal na droga. Dahil maraming takot mamatay, maraming piniling magbagong buhay. Nasa datos rin iyan ng PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) at PNP (Philippine National Police)."

Robredo said that the government must change its strategy, but Go said that while he respects her recommendations, he believes that the government must continue what it has been doing.

"Let me reiterate, hindi po madadaan sa salita lamang ang laban sa iligal na droga. Dapat takutin, dapat handang pumatay ng masama para sa kabutihan ng mga inosenteng Pilipinong apektado dito," Go said.

"Siguro kung si VP Leni pa rin ang nakaupong co-chair ng ICAD, mas dadami pa ang supply ng shabu dahil hindi matatakot ang drug lords sa kanyang iminumungkahing stratehiya," he added.

Go also called for Robredo to listen to the people. "VP Leni, tanungin

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