war on drugs

Sen. Bam calls on gov’t to end brutal killings, rethink drug war

Sen. Bam Aquino condemned the brutal killing of a 14-year-old teenager as he called on the government to suspend and rethink its bloody war against illegal drugs.

“Kasuklam-suklam ang pag-torture at pagsaksak ng 30 beses sa isang katorse anyos,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the number of stab wounds inflicted on Reynaldo de Guzman, whose body was discovered in Gapan, Nueva Ecija.

“We call on the administration to suspend Oplan Double Barrel and rethink this bloody drug war,” added Sen. Bam.

De Guzman was the last person seen with 19-year-old Carl Arnaiz on Aug. 17. On that night, Arnaiz was killed in Caloocan City. Police claimed that allegedly exchanged gunfire with policemen after a taxi driver claimed that the 19-year-old robbed him at gunpoint.

Ten days later, Arnaiz’s body was found in a morgue in Caloocan. De Guzman’s body was discovered nine days after Arnaiz’s body was found.

 Sen. Bam urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to ensure those behind the brutal murder of De Guzman are caught, tried and imprisoned.

 “We call on all our countrymen to stand up against this culture of violence. We must put an end to all these killings,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam on Manila Police District’s secret jail cell

Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang ganitong pagmamalabis. Kailangan itong maimbestigahan at matigil.

 Nakasalalay ang tiwala ng sambayanang Pilipino sa mga susunod na hakbang ng kapulisan. Kailangang paigtingin ang kampanya laban sa mga iskalawag na pulis at pang-aabuso. 

If the administration’s priority is the drug war, then we need an upstanding police force. Transferring scalawag policemen to Basilan is not enough.

 We have to be serious about making erring policemen accountable, otherwise these abuses will continue and even flourish.

 The rest of the world is watching closely and Filipino lives hang in the balance.

Bam to gov’t: Listen to people’s voice on martial law

Sen. Bam Aquino called on the government to seriously take notice of the recent Pulse Asia survey where 74 percent of Filipinos opposed the imposition of martial law.

 “Ang mga Pinoy, they are saying ayaw na namin ng martial law, which tells me that people are looking for new solutions,” Sen. Bam said during a television interview.

 “Hindi ito ang sagot sa lahat ng problema natin, na kapag nagkakagulo, magma-martial law tayo. People are looking for new solutions and better ways of doing things at kaming nasa gobyerno, we owe it to the people to provide these better solutions,” he added.

 Sen. Bam made the pronouncement after President Duterte declared over the weekend that no one can stop him from declaring Martial Law if the country’s drug problems worsen.

 The senator believes that President Duterte’s vacillating statements on martial law create uncertainty and fear among Filipinos.

 Just last month, Duterte declared that placing the country under martial law was far from his mind, adding that Filipino lives did not improve under military rule during the Marcos regime.

At one point, the President said he wanted to take out the provision in the Constitution about Congress and the Supreme Court weighing in on martial law.

“Sometimes when the President talks about these things differently, siyempre nakakakaba ito,” said Sen. Bam.

 “The image of this administration, with a strong and iron hand, very fierce, very harsh, it leads to thoughts of Martial Law and authoritarianism,” he added.

 The senator pointed out that the 1987 Constitution is clear when it comes to declaring martial rule, saying it can only be done during invasion or rebellion.

 When it comes to eradicating illegal drugs, Sen. Bam said the government can learn from Gawad Kalinga’s anti-drug program, which the group has been implementing in its communities for almost a decade now.

“Thanks to this anti-drug program, 90 percent or 1,800 out of its 2,000 communities are drug-free through community empowerment and accountability,” said Sen. Bam.

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