Senator Francis Pangilinan during the roundtable discussion with the Inquirer on the paper’s office in Makati City. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
President Duterte didn’t have to curse nor insult his predecessor former Chief Executive Benigno Aquino III if the latter was not supportive of his method in fighting the illegal drug problem.
Liberal Party president and Senator Francis Pangilinan said this after Duterte hit back at Aquino for saying his administration’s war on drugs hardly achieved anything.
In a speech before Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) employees on Wednesday, the foul-mouthed president cursed Aquino for criticizing his war against drugs.
“Sabi ni PNoy, parang walang nangyari. Sige, pumasok ka sa droga, PNoy, ‘pag hindi kita pinutulan ng ulo, buang ka. Anong walang nangyari? Put— Gago ka,” Duterte said.
(Aquino said nothing happened. OK, you try going into drugs, PNoy, and I’ll cut your head off, you fool. What happened? **** stupid.)
Pangilinan reiterated that the drug problem in the country should be treated as a health issue.
Since Duterte waged war against drugs, over 10,000 individuals have died both in police operations and in vigilante killings.
“We believe that addressing the drug problem should be viewed primarily as health problem with the corresponding rehabilitation programs for those afflicted and not simply viewed as a law enforcement problem,” Pangilinan said in a text message.
“Dagdag pa hindi naman kailangan murahin at insultuhin ang kapwa natin kung hindi natin sinasangayunan ang sinasabi nito (We don’t need to curse and insult others if we don’t agree with what they’re saying),” the senator said. JE
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