House Committee on Human Rights Chairperson Benny Abante Jr. on Tuesday welcomed the launch of a government war on drugs that emphasizes a respect for human rights, and said that the new campaign signals a positive shift that will save more lives.
The government last weekend launched a revamped anti-illegal drugs campaign called Buhay Ay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA), which Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos described as a program that will work “within the framework of the law and with respect for human rights and with focus on rehabilitation and socio-economic development.”
The lawmaker pointed out that more lives will be saved due to the government’s renewed emphasis on human rights and its focus on demand reduction and rehabilitation.
Abante stressed that “a sustained campaign against illegal drugs is still necessary, especially since drug addiction remains a clear and present danger to families and the youth.”
“Marami pa ring buhay ang nasisira at nadidiskaril dahil sa droga, lalo na ang ating mga kabataan. Tama lang na ituloy pa rin ang pagtutok sa problemang ito.”
The lawmaker pointed out that more lives will be saved due to the government’s renewed emphasis on human rights and its focus on demand reduction and rehabilitation.
“The body count that matters is the number of Filipinos saved from addiction. We have to remember that drug addicts are victims, too, and every effort must be made to save them,” said the Manila representative.
The legislator said he hoped the new campaign would be successful in tapping communities and other sectors to educate the youth about the evils of illegal drugs, “as prevention is, in my view, much more preferable to punishment.”
The BIDA program will involve local government units, national government agencies, and key law enforcement institutions such as the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the National Bureau of Investigation.
