‘Harsher’ drive should focus on big-time drug lords: solon

Gatchalian said the heads of the drug cartels who bring in illegal drugs to the country should be identified so that the “full force of the law can be imposed upon them.” (File Photo: Sherwin Gatchalian/Facebook)

MANILA — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte’s “harsher” anti-illegal drug campaign must now shift its focus on drug lords.

Gatchalian said the heads of the drug cartels who bring in illegal drugs to the country should be identified so that the “full force of the law can be imposed upon them.”

“Despite the government’s heavy hand against illegal drugs, huge quantities of cocaine were found floating off our shores. We cannot fault the President when he says his anti-drug campaign would be harsher in the coming days,” Gatchalian said.

“Kailangan panagutin ang mga drug lords na ito sa pagsira nila sa buhay at kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan na nalululong sa illigal na droga. Isa ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit sinusuportahan ko ang reimposition ng death penalty para sa mga big-time drug lords na ito (Drug lords should be held responsible for ruining the lives and future of the youth who have become addicted to drugs. This is one of the reasons why I support the reimposition of death penalty for big-time drug lords),” he added.

Gatchalian also called on law enforcers to carry out their mandate “responsibly and judiciously” in conducting their anti-illegal drug tasks.

Duterte issued a stern warning Sunday that he will make the remaining years of his presidency the “most dangerous years” for people who are into drugs.

“Consider my last three years as the most dangerous years for people who are into drugs either pusher, trafficker, or drug lord… I will make it very dangerous for you to live,” Duterte told the crowd that attended the PDP-Laban rally at the Plaza Independencia in Cebu.