Senator Christopher Lawrence Go insisted Tuesday the need to focus on the bigger problem of illegal drugs than politicking.
In a public hearing by the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, Go confronted Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo on the troubling incident involving the escape of prisoners from a PDEA detention facility in Zamboanga City.
Lazo confirmed the escape, saying it is still under investigation in collaboration with the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The PDEA official said he was informed by their regional director that the inmates could open the jail facility’s roofing.
Reports said the prison break occurred at 2:45 AM on Monday, May 13, at the PDEA facility in Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City.
The seven escapees were recently arrested in a PDEA operation, during which millions of pesos worth of shabu were confiscated.
Go stressed the broader implications of such security breaches, linking them to the overarching issue of proper drug enforcement.
He likewise underscored the crucial role anti-drug personnel play to combat criminality and the illegal drug trade.
Go stressed the importance of acknowledging their efforts by filing Senate Bill No. (SBN) 419 or the proposed Magna Carta for PDEA officers and personnel.
The senator has been a staunch advocate for the anti-drug initiatives in the country. He expressed support for President Marcos’ plan to establish a drug treatment and rehabilitation facility in each province by June 2028.
He also filed SBN 428, which proposes the creation of a Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in each province across the country.
These centers are envisioned not just as treatment facilities for drug dependents, but also as comprehensive support hubs offering after-care, follow-up services, and social reintegration programs.