Bongbong Marcos backs death penalty for drug trafficking

MANILA — While Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. believes that there is no quick fix to the country’s drug problems, he is supporting the death penalty for those involved in the illegal drug trade.

Marcos pointed out on Tuesday that solving the country’s drug problem has become complex, adding that it should be seen, not only as a police problem but as a societal problem as well.

The vice presidential hopeful, who led the oath-taking of at least 1,000 members of the We Parents organization in Pasig City, said the different sectors of society, organized in groups like the “We Parents,” should come together to help solve one of the country’s biggest problems.

The We Parents organization was formed in 2012 in Pasig City to help address some of the city’s problems, such as livelihood. The organization is composed of members of parent-teachers associations, homeowners associations and even public utility drivers and operators associations that conduct various programs like skills training in partnership with the local government.

“We need all sectors of society to come together, starting from the parents. [We should focus our efforts in] the values formation of the children and strengthening the Filipino family. I think the solution lies in a strong family that the child can depend on,” Marcos said.

During his speech at Barangay Maybunga’s covered court, Marcos said that “92 percent of barangays in Metro Manila have been affected by the illegal drug problem.”

“This is alarming not only because of the crime related to it but also because [drug dealers] want to prey on our children, who are our country’s future… If they will prey on our children, it’s like they’re destroying our future,” Marcos told residents of the city that was once in the limelight because of its “shabu tiangge.”

Marcos said the negative effects illegal drugs have brought to society have convinced him to support the death penalty for the traffickers.

“Because of the scale of damage they inflict [to society], I think they deserve the death penalty,” he said.  SFM