Exclusive - Netizens Slam Senator Pangilinan After He Claimed The Drug War Was Unsuccessful

Despite the tremendous effort exerted by the Duterte administration and the Philippine National Police (PNP), it seems as if freeing the country of drugs within his first 12 months is impossible. This is Senator Kiko Pangilinan implied in a recent statement he made.

Senator Pangilinan claimed that the drug war will not succeed in 12 months. In his Twitter post, he emphasized that if Davao had not been freed from the drug problem for 24 years, then it would be more difficult to eliminate drugs in the whole country.

Moreover, he suggested that the President and his administration should find a new approach in dealing with the problem.

"Our people yearn for and deserve OPLANS that work," he said.

On his full statement, the senator said:

"On the current Anti Illegal Drugs Campaign: Lets talk about the facts. In July of 2016, Sunstar Davao reported that over 4000 addicts and pushers surrendered in Davao City as a result of Malacanang’s OPLAN Tokhang.

If the Davao City anti illegal drugs campaign suceed and stamping out and eliminating pushers and addicts in Davao City under President Duterte’s 24 year stint as Mayor, what makes us think that the nationwide campaign against illegal drugs will succeed in 6 months (extend to another 6 months).

If a mailed fist policy against illegal drugs did not succeed in eliminating the drug menace in a smaller area (one city) over a longer period of time (24 years), why would it succeed in a large area (the entire country of over 100 cities and over 1000 municipalities) in a shorter period of time (3 to 6 to 12 months)? Perhaps we need to rethink the current approaches. Our people yearn for and deserve OPLANS that work. PLS SHARE IF YOU AGREE SO THAT OTHERS MAY HOPEFULLY AGREE TOO."

This statement by the senator was not taken well by Duterte and the netizens.

Although one netizen asked about the approach the senator would use if it was him on the line, Pangilinan answered, "@ChaniChix85 @jfangonilo Modernizing the justice system so that we punish more and swiftly so there will be fear and respect for the law."

However, despite the Senator's proposed resolution, many sided with the President's drug war and questioned Pangilinan instead on what he has done for the country for the past years he had been a senator.

"Marvin de Guzman @rchmarvz eh ikaw nga mas matagal sa senado druga ba masulutionan mo? Sori but you have failed our COUNTRY! #mahiyakanaman"

"BRUCE Veloso ESMAS @bruce913 ang tanong po yata – what have you done for this chronic problem in the last 10 yrs na ikaw ang senador? Panay dedma lang?"

"Myk and Reese @iamReeseMicah sir tagal niyo ng nasa national position as senator, kung talagang epektibo ‘to noon pa."