PH solons affirm support for anti-drug war in Moscow forum

Majority Floor Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rudy Fariñas
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Philippine lawmakers led by House Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas have affirmed the government’s pledge to brutally destroy the rampant narcotics trade during an international conference held in Moscow.

In the “Parliamentarians Against Drugs” forum held in Russia on Dec. 4, Fariñas asserted the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign before 40 parliamentary delegations from Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America.

Fariñas, in his plenary speech, said that the House of Representatives allotted budget for the construction of rehabilitation centers and passed legislation in support of anti-drug policies.

“In the 2017 National Budget, the amount allocated for drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers increased by more than 1000% compared to the previous year,” Fariñas said, according to a news release from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“This act of Congress alone sends a strong and unequivocal signal about its commitment not only to fight illegal drugs but also to reintegrate former drug users and make them productive members of society,” the House majority floor leader said.

Fariñas was joined by Rep. Fredenil H. Castro, (Capiz, 2nd District), Rep. Johnny T. Pimentel (Surigao del Sur, 2nd District), Rep. Rodolfo T. Albano, III (Isabela, 1st District) and Rep. Enrico A. Pineda (1-PACMAN party-list).

The conference was organized by Russian State Duma, the country’s lower legislative chamber, in cooperation with the Russian foreign affairs ministry. /jpv

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