MANILA — Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Tuesday called on the public to continuously support the war on drugs of the Duterte administration as he assures to work on improving the funding for law enforcement agencies in the Lower House.
Speaking during the #RealNumbersPH Year 2 event in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said there are a lot to be done to ensure victory in the effort to eradicate illegal drugs.
"Napakasuwerte po ng Pilipinas na magkaroon ng isang president na ang ang adbokasya ay labanan ang problema sa droga (The country is very fortunate to have a president whose advocacy is to fight the problem of illegal drugs)," Barbers told government officials and anti-drugs stakeholders gathered to mark the first year of RealNumbersPH initiative.
"Leaders come and go, and leaders come up with their own rhetoric. Bihira po tayo nakakakita ng isang leader na bukod sa kanyang deklarasyon ay meron pong totoong datos (It's not often that we have a leader who is not only vocal on the issue but also the real numbers to back it up)," he said.
"I would like to emphasize that this war is not an ordinary war. We can have a series of arrests, series of drug busts, series of laboratories which are being dismantled here and there pero pag di pa rin natin ito sinusuporta sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakita ng mga impormasyon (but if we don't support them by showing the right information) this war may become a failure," Barbers added.
Barbers who said he hopes the next leader of the country will continue the effort against the trade in illegal drugs, noting he sees nothing wrong if the president's term is extended.
"People have nothing to fear when a leader has nothing but the country's welfare in his agenda. He is not only worried about the present but the future of this generation,"he said.
Barbers added that administration allies in the Lower House will continue to support law enforcement agencies.
He said he will personally lobby for Congress to increase funding for both the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police to ensure that these agencies have sufficient funds for their operations. (PNA)
