Corruption, illegal drugs unabated? Something must be wrong somewhere – Lacson

MANILA, Philippines — “Something must be going wrong somewhere.”

Senator Panfilo Lacson said this Wednesday as he lamented the seemingly continued existence of corruption and illegal drugs in the country.

“With PRRD’s (President Rodrigo Duterte) very strong position and oft-repeated threats against corruption and illegal drugs, the twin scourge seems to continue to persist. Something must be wrong somewhere,” Lacson said in a tweet.

With PRRD’s very strong position and oft-repeated threats against corruption and illegal drugs, the twin scourge seems to continue to persist. Something must be wrong somewhere.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) October 30, 2019

Lacson, who headed the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the Estrada administration, earlier said that it’s best for Duterte to lead the war on drugs unless he delegates a blanket authority.

“Unless he delegates a blanket authority, including the power to hire and fire, no one else in the government bureaucracy can do it better than the chief executive under any other given circumstances,” Lacson said.

Replying to Lacson’s tweet, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said: “Maybe we’re not killing enough of the right guys to kill.”

“What do you think? I think rogue cops should get the same treatment they dish out. What do you think? It is a population control measure, at least,” Locsin said.

Interesting. Maybe we're not killing enough of the right guys to kill. What do you think? I think rogue cops should get the same treatment they dish out. What do you think? It is a population control measure, at least. https://t.co/s8wRKXTw8v

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) October 30, 2019

Lacson then said: “Cutting small branches makes plants produce small twigs that grow into more branches. Kill the plants that supply the lifeline of those twigs and branches. The strategy shift might work.”

Cutting small branches makes plants produce small twigs that grow into more branches. Kill the plants that supply the lifeline of those twigs and branches. The strategy shift might work. By the way, with all your wit and eloquence, I’m surprised you didn’t call it pest control.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) October 30, 2019

Vice President Leni Robredo earlier said the government’s war against drugs should be re-assessed as there are aspects of it that are not working.

Citing data from the Dangerous Drugs Board and President Rodrigo Duterte, Robredo said that the number of drug addicts grew to seven to eight million in 2019.