Alejano: PH should learn from US, Colombia in fight vs drugs

Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano said that the victory in the war on drugs of the Duterte administration remains elusive unless they will identify the cause of the menace. Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol – The victory in the war on drugs of President Duterte remains elusive, according to Rep. Gary Alejano of the Magdalo party-list group.

The war on drugs is like a band-aid applied to wounds. It is meant only to stop the bleeding and would not cure the wound, Alejano said.

“We should now all accept that, you can’t totally eliminate illegal drugs in the country. You cannot. Other countries have tried but they failed to address illegal drugs,” said Alejano.

He was in Bohol on Saturday as part of his “consultation” and “greet and meet” with some members of the Magdalo.

Alejano cited some studies that other countries, such as the United States of America have grappled with to eliminate the menace.

He said the Philippines should learn from the US, Colombia, and Thailand, which found that the biggest contributing factors for the proliferation of illegal drugs were the economy and poverty.

Alejano said President Duterte wanted a shortcut that killed even those who were innocent.

“The approach of the President is shortcut … he doesn’t believe in the justice system. There is no clear policy,” he said.

Alejano accepted the nomination of the Magdalo party to run for senator for the May 2019 midterm elections.