The remarks of Pope Francis against illegal drugs boosted the campaign of the administration on drugs and criminality in the country, Malacañang Palace said on Sunday.
“We consider Vatican’s remarks as a boost in our campaign as we battle the twin evils of crimes and drugs,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement issued on Sunday.
He was referring to remarks that Pope Francis made during a conference in Vatican.
“Pope Francis urged governments to combat drug addiction and courageously undertake the fight against those who, in the Pontiff’s words, ‘deal in death’,” Panelo said in a statement issued on Sunday. “This is precisely the rationale behind the President’s war on illegal drugs in the Philippines: to save the young and future generations of Filipinos from the drug scourge.”
The conference, dubbed as “Drugs and Addictions: An Obstacle to Integral Human Development” was held in the Vatican from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1
During the event, Pope Francis said that it was the duty of the government to fight against drug traffickers.
READ: Pope says governments have duty to fight drug traffickers
The President launched his war on drugs on assuming office back in 2016. /atm