SURIGAO del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to investigate reports that several government employees in Davao City were using illegal drugs.
In a statement, Barbers expressed concern over reports that 37 personnel of Davao City’s Public Safety and Security Office tested positive for drug use, given that the city is the hometown of former President Rodrigo Duterte who implemented the war against illegal drugs during his term.
“Even Davao City, where the number one enemy of illegal drugs resides, was not spared. This shows us that the problem is indeed serious and the solution is not a walk in the park,” said Barbers who heads the House of Representatives’ committee on dangerous drugs.
“We have to take a whole of the nation approach and everyone’s help is encouraged. This bold display of arrogance by these drug syndicates is indicative of their mistaken confidence that they can bribe their way in and out of our system,” he added.
The solon called on the PNP and PDEA to investigate why the illegal drug trade continues to persist in Davao City.
“As Chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, I call on the PNP and PDEA to deeply get involved and eradicate the source of the illegal drugs in Davao City. Spare no one and leave no stone unturned in getting to the bottom of this mess,” he said.
Barbers also vowed to assist Duterte’s son, incumbent Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, by providing the local chief executive with whatever information that may be obtained by the committee.
“I understand this problem very well. I was once the Governor of my province. I know where the local authorities are standing right now and the pressure they are in. I will gladly share with them any information that may come my way as Chairman of the committee on dangerous drugs. Fighting this together in a united front is the only way to succeed,” Barbers said.
“If these syndicates think that they can bribe all of us, they are terribly mistaken. What you have shown so far in using drug money to buy our lands, our officials, our electoral system and our people only challenges us more to fight back and give you what you deserve, the only language you understand, death, as I call on the government to immediately revive the death penalty and send these syndicates to the gallows,” he added.
Last March, Mayor Duterte vowed to restart the drug war in the city while warning pushers and traffickers to leave his city. Shortly after this, five drug suspects were killed in police operations in 24 hours.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) office in Davao Region is investigating the said deaths.
