Tila binanatan ni House Committee on Dangerous Drugs Chairperson Robert Barbers ang pamilya Duterte sa kanyang pinakabagong pahayag tungkol sa 37 na kawani ng Davao City local government na nag-positibo sa drug test kamakailan lang.
Aniya, maging ang Davao City kung saan nakatira ang pasimuno ng “war on drugs” na si dating Pangulong Digong Duterte ay hindi nakaligtas sa pagkalat ng iligal na droga.
“Even Davao City where the number one enemy of illegal drugs resides, was not spared. This shows us that the problem is indeed serious and the solution is not a walk in the park. We have to take a whole of the nation approach and everyone’s help is encouraged. This bold display of arrogance by these drug syndicates is indicative of their mistaken confidence that they can bribe their way in and out of our system.”
Dahil dito, siniguro ni Barbers na walang takas ang mga sangkot ang mga kawaning ito at nanindigan na walang makakatakas sa kanilang monitoring at mapaparusahan ang mga mahuhuling gumagamit ng iligal na droga.
“As Chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, I call on the PNP [Philippines National Police] and PDEA [Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency] to deeply get involved and eradicate the source of the illegal drugs in Davao City. Spare no one and leave no stone unturned in getting to the bottom of this mess.”
Aniya, isa ang Davao City sa dapat bantayan na lalawigan sa bansa tungkol sa isyu na ito dahil dito natagpuan ang isa sa itinuturong lider ng mga sinasabing iligal na kontrabando.
“We have to take a whole of the nation approach and everyone’s help is encouraged. This bold display of arrogance by these drug syndicates is indicative of their mistaken confidence that they can bribe their way in and out of our system.”
Ipinangako rin ng mambabatas “bilang na ang mga araw” ng mga sindikatong nagpapakalat ng iligal na droga sa bansa dahil wala na sila aniyang takas sa kanilang mga ginawa.
“If these syndicates think that they can bribe all of us, they are terribly mistaken. What you have shown so far in using drug money to buy our lands, our officials, our electoral system and our people only challenges us more to fight back and give you what you deserve, the only language you understand, death, as I call on the government to immediately revive the death penalty and send these syndicates to the gallows.”
Nananawagan din siya na makipagtulungan ang mga lokal na pamahalaan sa pagbibigay impormasyon kung sakaling may makalap silang impormasyon sa kanilang lalawigan. “I understand this problem very well. I was once Governor of my province. I know where the local authorities are standing right now and the pressure they are in.”