Pinuri ni Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman ng House Committee on Dangerous Drugs ang Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) matapos na bumaba ng 52% ang bilang ng mga nasawi sa anti-illegal drug campaign ng administrasyong Marcos.

Kasabay nito, sinabi ni Barbers na magsasagawa ang kanyang komite ng mga pagdinig upang mas mapaganda pa ang kampanya laban sa ipinagbabawal na gamot alinsunod sa direktiba ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.

“The House leadership under Speaker Martin Romualdez commends PDEA for a job well done in the successful bloodless anti-illegal drug campaign. Your exceptional performance, outstanding efforts, and unwavering dedication to excellence have not gone unnoticed. We are looking forward to witnessing law enforcement agencies led by PDEA achieve even greater milestones in the fight against illegal drugs,” ani Barbers.

“We have to continue strategies in the war on drugs that are just, humane, and without too much harm,” giit ni Barbers. “Let us avoid unnecessary loss of life and suffering because of violence.”

Mula sa 40 nasawi noong 2020 hanggang 2021, sinabi ng PDEA na nakapagtala ito ng 19 na nasawi mula Hulyo 2022 hanggang Setyembre 2023.

Sinabi ni Barbers na magsasagawa ang kanyang komite ng mga pagdinig bilang suporta sa bloodless anti-drug war ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“Like food inflation and the other important concerns we are trying to address, the drug menace is a big problem. It destroys users, their families, and society. Drug lords, peddlers, their protectors, and corrupt law enforcers and politicians are the only ones benefitting from it,” sabi ni Barbers.

Sinabi ni Barbers na isa sa pag-aaralan ng kanyang komite kung kailangan ng karagdagang batas para mapalakas ang kampanya laban sa droga.

“Let us see how we can boost the anti-drug war without resorting to violence, without eliciting anger and resentment from our people, and without drawing global attention and condemnation,” saad pa ng kongresista.

Ayon kay Barbers maghahanap din ng paraan ang Kongreso upang ma-rehabilitate ang tinatayang 1.8 milyong drug user.

“These agencies should tell us what they need – more funding or more legislative measures,” giit ni Barbers.