MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Monday hit “epal” critics of the administration’s war on drugs.
“War vs drugs should be continuing and perpetual. No such thing as FAILED or WON,” Sotto said on Twitter.
“Ang dami kasing epal na hindi naman alam ang laban!” he added.
Asked in a text message who he was referring to in his post, Sotto said: “Those who say drug war has failed.”
“The fight should never cease. It only fails if we stop fighting,” he stressed.
Last Friday, the Ateneo School of Government released an updated number of drug-related killings from Drug Archive, the academe – led database prepared by Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University and the University of the Philippines.
According to the database, the administration’s war on drugs has resulted in the deaths of more than 7,000 suspects.
READ: Academe-led database: Over 7,000 suspects killed in 3-year drug war
But Sotto clarified that his Twitter post was not specifically directed at the said report.
“It’s my general statement to those who do not really know about the fight against illegal drugs and drug abuse,” he pointed out.
“My fight and research on these issues started as early as 1988 kaya alam ko kung sino walang alam at meron at kung sino malamang ang mga sympathetic to users and therefore cloud their perspective,” he said
Sotto was chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board during the administration of then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. / gsg