Speaker: PH drug problem so huge it can affect future generations

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (INQUIRER PHOTO)

TACLOBAN CITY—Amid criticisms on the crackdown on illegal drugs by President Rodrigo Duterte, his top lieutenant at the House of Representatives has urged the public to continue their support on this campaign.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, speaking on Saturday before member-consumers and officials of the Leyte II Electric Company (Leyeco III) in Tunga, Leyte, said the problem on illegal drugs facing the country was so huge that if not stopped it could affect the generations to come.

“The President is campaigning really to stop it. And I hope all of you will help the President in his campaign against illegal drugs. Malaki ho masyado ang problema ng bansang Pilipinas tungkol sa droga,” Alvarez said in his speech on Saturday during the 37th annual general assembly of Leyeco II held at the gymnasium of the said facility.

“Kinakailangan nating tapusin ’to para na rin sa kinabukasan nating lahat at kinabukasan ng lahat ng mga anak natin in the succeeding generations,” he said.

The Speaker was welcomed by Leyeco III general manager Allan Laniba, Rep. Henry Ong of Leyte’s second district and officials of other electric cooperatives in Leyte.

The campaign to end the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country has been strongly criticized by some human rights groups, foreign governments and the United Nations.

The crackdown has the President conducting a name and shame campaign involving personalities, government and police officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

The Speaker also spoke on the federalism system being pushed by the administration.

According to Alvarez, federalism will be more advantageous to poor regions like the Eastern Visayas.

He added that it would prevent the central government or Manila from dictating whether a region would be poor or progressive.

“Kasi sila lahat. Pero lahat tayo, no exception, lahat ng income natin kailangan ipadala sa Manila … up to the last centavo,” the Speaker said.

In the federal form of government, he said, the region would not be required to send its income to Manila.

“Magpadala lang tayo ng 20 or 25 percent, ipadala sa Manila contribution natin sa federal government. Majority of our income dito maiwan,”Alvarez said.

He said the President would be pushing for the change of government system, saying it is part of his advocacy.