‘Never too late for Duterte call for Congress aid on drug war’

President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for Congress to help in the government’s war on drug was “long in coming” but was never too late, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has said.

“He (Duterte) has my unequivocal support in the fight against illegal drugs even without being asked, like every peace-loving Filipino should,” Lacson, chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, said in a text message to reporters.

That was the reason why, he said, most of his bills were in support of the government’s anti-crime efforts such as the proposed Expanded Anti-wire Tapping Act; Restoration of the Death Penalty for illegal drugs offenses; Enhancement of the authority of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, including certain amendments of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, among others.

“Calling the members of both houses of Congress to assist is long in coming, but it’s never too late. I’m thankful that he now acknowledges that he can’t do it alone and needs our assistance to defeat the drug menace,” Lacson said.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Minority Leader Ralph Recto also welcomed Duterte’s move to reach out to Congress.

“We will be willing to give him 100% cooperation. I’m looking forward to the Ledac so we will know what else he needs,” Sotto said in a separate text message. Ledac is Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.

“A consensus is always good. Am willing to listen to the President’s request,” Recto said in another statement.

Duterte said illegal drugs is a serious problem in the country that he needs a consensus of Congress to solve it.

“The final list submitted to me by the law enforcement agencies, ganoon po kakapal. Hindi ko malaman ngayon paano ko hahanap ng solusyon (It’s thick. I don’t know how to find a solution). This thick,” the President said in a speech before he left for Japan on Tuesday.

“What I’m trying to say is I’m trying to call a consensus sa itaas (with the Congress). Lahat na senator and congressmen, kasi napakabigat po ng problema na ito. Kasi kung ako lang, hindi ko kaya (All the senators and congressmen because this is a serious problem. I couldn’t do it alone),” he added. CDG

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