Senate budget debates begin with funds for drug war

SENATORS ON Thursday, Nov. 16, debated over the realignment of P900 million for the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) antiillegal drug campaign “Oplan Double Barrel” during the Senate interpellation on the proposed budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday, Nov. 16.

In an interview with reporters, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said “the PNP does not need P900 million anymore since the war against illegal drugs campaign is no longer with them, inalis ni Presidente (the President removed it),” noting that the campaign is now with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

For his part, Senator Franklin M. Drilon proposed to realign the P900 million for the policemen’s housing.

“Isn’t it embarrassing that the 2018 budget for the housing program of PNP is only P1.6 billion for only 450 units out of 10,300 units needed?” Mr. Drilon said, adding that the anti- illegal drug war budget should be realigned to the housing program of the agency.

Meanwhile, with regards to the proposed P150.9- million budget for the Dangerous Drugs Board ( DDB), Mr. Lacson, upon interpellation by Senator Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel, expressed support for the mega- rehab facility in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, saying DDB is committed to work hand in hand with the Department of Health (DoH).

Ms. Hontiveros suggested that the agency should also coordinate with the Department of Justice (DoJ) because “drug addiction is not only a health problem but also a justice problem.”

Mr. Lacson also pointed out that the agency spent P8 million for its commissioned survey on the national drug abuse situation in the country, as conducted by Resources, Environment and Economics Center for Studies, Inc. (REECS) from 2015 to 2016, which revealed there were 1.8 million drug users in the Philippines or 1.8% of the total population of 100.98 million last year. —