Duterte allies press bill on rehab centers

As President Rodrigo Duterte presses his war on drugs, lawmakers are urging the House of Representatives to hasten the approval of a bill that would establish drug rehabilitation centers in all regions of the Philippines to help reform drug dependents.

“The immediate enactment into law of our House Bill No. 9 will start the comprehensive process of changing lives and bringing the drug dependents back to their families and communities,” Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu said on Saturday in a statement.

House Bill No. 9, one of 25 similar measures waiting for action by the House dangerous drugs committee, would put up a drug rehabilitation center in every region of the country.

The bill is coauthored by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez and Representatives Rolando Andaya Jr., Karlo Alexei Nograles, Michael John Duavit, Carlos Cojuangco, Elisa Kho, Benhur Salimbagon and Rodel Batocabe.

The committee chair, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, said the rehabilitation aspect of the drug war was a priority of President Duterte’s administration, as shown by his allocation of

P3 billion in the budget of the Office of the President for the construction of drug rehabilitation centers. TVJ

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