Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday criticized the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for its limited success in combating illegal drugs, calling for a more comprehensive approach that goes beyond enforcement.
The remarks came during a Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hearing on Senate Bill 190, which proposes abolishing the PDEA and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and consolidating their functions into a new body named the Presidential Drug Enforcement Authority.
In the bill’s explanatory note, Sotto argued that the country’s drug war has not been holistic, leading to high casualties and numerous dismissed cases.
“Successful ba kayo? Hindi. Nadali pa kayo ng tokhang, ‘di ba? Ano nangyari ngayon? Ayun, may ICC (International Criminal Court), ‘di ba? So we want this upgraded. We want better for the country. We want a better way to address the problem of illegal drugs and drug abuse,” Sotto said.
PDEA Deputy Director General for Operations Renato Gumban expressed opposition to the bill, emphasizing that PDEA was created in 2002 to replace anti-drug units in the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Customs, positioning it as the primary coordinating body against narcotics.
Sotto, who played a key role in creating the PDEA, clarified that the bill’s goal is to elevate the agency by placing it under the Office of the President, giving it greater supervisory powers.
He argued that the agency has overemphasized enforcement, effectively becoming a “private army,” while neglecting prevention and rehabilitation programs.
The hearing comes amid ongoing ICC proceedings against former President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the violent drug war, which resulted in an estimated 6,000 to 30,000 deaths.
Sotto also stressed that drug abuse and illegal drugs are distinct issues, warning that enforcement alone cannot address addiction, as individuals will seek alternative sources if drugs are eradicated.