The House Committee on Dangerous Drugs chaired by Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers approved the substitute bill to House Bills 93, 756 and 4135 that would create anti-drug abuse councils (ADACs) in all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays throughout the country.
The bills are authored by Barbers. Iloilo City Representative Julienne Baronda and Northern Samar Representative Harris Christopher Ongchuan, respectively.
Batanes Representative Ciriaco Gato Jr. proposed to include the district representative of the city or province as permanent ex-officio member of the ADAC.
Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez supported Gato’s proposal, noting that not all congressmen are in coordination with city mayors.
The committee also continued its motu proprio investigation into the alleged recycling, reward system, and the alleged commission being received by the asset/s or non-organic intelligence people of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
“The scheme is an indication that our law enforcement agencies are bound by the presence of unscrupulous employees who continue to sell the future of our children and our society for personal enrichment.”
Barbers said the scheme, as revealed by PDEA Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo, is “an indication that our law enforcement agencies are bound by the presence of unscrupulous employees who continue to sell the future of our children and our society for personal enrichment. These people are a menace to our society,” describing these people as “mas masahol pa … sa mga drug dealers na hinuhuli niyo … Nagmumukhang ligal at government sponsored ang ating mga drug deals. Kaya pala hindi matapos tapos at maubos ubos ang iligal na droga sa ating kalsada.”
“PDEA has no policy giving 30 percent of the illegal drug hauls to informants as a reward.”
Lazo stressed that the PDEA has no policy giving 30 percent of the illegal drug hauls to informants as a reward. He clarified that his public revelation that there are fixers seeking confiscated drugs as reward was done in good faith.
Barbers commended Lazo for coming forward and assured him of the committee’s “all out support and protection if needed in revealing the truth to save our nation.”
