Padilla’s resolution to address policy gaps in PH anti-drug policy

Sen. Robinhood Padilla —Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Robinhood Padilla has filed a resolution seeking to investigate and address any policy gaps in the implementation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (RA 9165).

Padilla, in his Senate Resolution  No. 1131 filed on Monday, asked the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs to conduct the inquiry.

“Notwithstanding the accomplishment of Marcos administration in their bloodless war on dangerous drugs, issues concerning the security breach in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) have emerged,” said Padilla in a statement.

READ: BuCor officer caught carrying suspected shabu worth P68M – PDEA

He noted that the allegations against PDEA are a serious concern as it is one of the government agencies responsible for enforcing laws connected to dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals under RA 9165.

“It is alarming that more than 7 percent of the total number of high-value targets is composed of government employees, thereby underscoring the need to ensure that government offices, occupied by those most expected to adhere to the law, are truly drug-free workplaces,” Padilla added.

The senator then recalled that in his third State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mentioned that among the 6,000 individuals arrested for illegal drugs, 440 were government employees, including 42 uniformed personnel, and 77 elected officials.

Furthermore, Padilla pointed out that it was revealed in a recent hearing that the government’s mandatory drug tests only tested two kinds of drugs, “showing an inadequacy in the requirement as well as a loophole in the implementation of the law.” —Arianne Cagsawa, INQUIRER.net trainee