Senator Robin Padilla Appeals to Decriminalized the Use of Illegal Drugs

Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla suggested legalizing and decriminalized the use of illegal drugs in the country.

Senator Padilla suggested conducting an experiment to see whether decriminalizing drugs would be useful or not when the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs heard about drug misuse treatment and rehabilitation facilities. Padilla stated during a Senate hearing that it is preferable to send addicts to rehab rather than locking them up.

“We can always amend the law. English iyon ah. Kailangan lang natin sumubok. Kailangan natin pakinggan rin iyong medical point of view kasi nagawa na natin iyong law enforcement point of view. Wala naman masama. Kung hindi naging epektibo, eh ‘di next year, palitan natin. Tanggalin natin iyong batas,” he said.

Additionally, he suggested that the pusher and the users be kept apart because the senator sees them as nothing more than victims. Then Padilla made the case that drug users, particularly those who deal in small amounts, are merely offenders and that they should be treated differently from violent criminals.

“Paghiwalayin natin iyong pusher, drug dealer. Iyong mga kawatan talaga, ihiwalay natin sa mga biktima. Iyon lamang po ang purpose ng panukalang batas. Kailangan maliwanag sa batas ng Pilipinas na hindi natin isinasama iyong pipitsugin doon sa bigatin. Kailangan po natin talaga bigyan ng emphasis dito sa batas natin sa Pilipinas kung sino iyong ating tutulungan at sino iyong ating tutuluyan,” he explained.

In opposition to Padilla, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa claimed that legalizing drug use would only increase addiction rates. Based on the article in Inquirer, the senator added that many would be able to get away with using it if it were legalized because doing so would also make it legal to possess the drug, which is currently illegal.

“Tama nga iyong sabi ng DDB (Dangerous Drug Board) na baka iyong magiging standard ng mga tao, ‘Walang problema iyan, gamit tayo ng droga. Hindi naman tayo makukulong. Rehab lang tayo.’ Iyon iyong meat ng opinyon ninyo,” said Dela Rosa who was one of the leaders of Oplan Tokhang when he was PNP chief.

“Napaisip rin ako, kung i-decriminalize natin iyong drug using, baka ma-decriminalize na rin natin iyong drug possession,” he added.

Additionally opposed to decriminalizing drug use is the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Moro Lazo echoed the NBI’s position by stating that he personally does not support this approach to dealing with drug use in the nation.

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