MANILA, Philippines — Congressional aspirant and Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian on Wednesday said his city has “gotten a lot better” because of the national government’s war on drugs, adding that it is not a failure.
“In my opinion, in every democracy, things can be improved. I won’t say it’s a failure, it’s not. I’m here on the ground. I can see the effects. It’s really gotten a lot better. It’s not perfect, but it’s gotten a lot better,” Gatchalian told INQside Look.
“I’m on the ground. I’ve been on the ground for the past eight years. I can compare from the last administration and this administration, and I can tell you point-blank, even if you ask our barangay captains, even if you ask the local enforcers, it’s gotten a lot better,” he added.
Noting that the anti-illegal drug campaign is not perfect, Gatchalian said that it could be improved and the national government is doing its part to enhance it.
“Yes, there are critics, nakikinig din naman tayo sa mga sentimyento nila kaya doon pumapasok ang sagot ko. Walang perpekto na sistema, pwede naman ma-improve palagi and I know the national government is trying to find ways to improve it some more,” the mayor said.
(Yes, there are critics, and we listen to their sentiments. That’s why I said it’s not perfect. There is no perfect system but it can be improved and I know the national government is trying to find ways to improve it some more.)
“They’ve taken strides in auditing their own ranks. They’ve taken strides in auditing policemen. They’ve taken strides from body cameras to all those. I think these are strides being made by the national government to show that they note and acknowledge that the systems can always be improved,” he added.
On November 18, the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan informed the court’s pre-trial chamber, which authorized the probe on the alleged crimes against humanity in September, that he had “temporarily suspended” the investigation while the prosecution “assess the scope and effect” of country’s deferral request.
On Tuesday, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor said it will ask the Philippine government for “tangible evidence” of its probes on the alleged crimes against humanity under President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
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