MANILA – Sen. Leila de Lima said the recent death of a three-year-old child during an antidrug operation was clear evidence that the administration’s war on drugs was a failure, contrary to the claims of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
De Lima said the government has “conveniently set aside” the fact that innocent people were dying in the “murderous drug war,” with the latest three-year-old Myca Ulpina who was shot dead in Rizal province last Sunday.
“It is no surprise that PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde believes that the government is ‘definitely’ winning the war on drugs. Of course, they made such declaration to justify the brutal killings under the Duterte regime,” de Lima said.
Albayalde on Monday said the administration’s war on drugs was a success but admitted there are still a lot to be done.
“Ito ba ang panalo para sa gobyernong ito? Ang pagpaslang sa isa na namang inosenteng bata tulad ni Myca, at sa libo-libong mahihirap na Pilipino?” de Lima said.
Aside from the casualties, de Lima added billions’ worth of illegal drugs are smuggled in the country and drug lords remain to be free three years since the program started.
“Kung sabagay, sadyang binabaligtad nila ngayon ang lahat sa rehimeng Duterte. Ang inosente, ikinukulong at pinapatay. Ang kriminal, pinapalaya at pinagtatakpan. Ang para sa Pilipino, ipinamimigay sa dayuhan,” de Lima said.
“Kung ‘panalo’ ang pakahulugan nila sa salitang ‘palpak,’ talagang magpapatuloy pa ang araw-araw na patayan, hindi titigil ang pagkitil sa mga walang kalaban-laban,” added de Lima./PN
