Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa expressed concern that drug users are becoming increasingly audacious, openly posting their activities online.
Speaking at an event in Manila, Dela Rosa lamented that drug use is now being glamorized on social media.
“Alam niyo, nakakalungkot po ang nangyayari ngayon, tingnan ninyo, everyday sa social media, makita ninyo, very proud itong mga adik. Bina-vlog pa nila ‘yung kanilang paggagamit ng shabu,” according to him.
“Nakita niyo ‘yon? Kahit saan-saan, nagkakalat, gumagamit ng shabu! Ang yabang nila, pinagyayabang nila to the whole world na gumagamit silang shabu,” he added.
The former Philippine National Police chief warned that if this trend continues, people may start believing drug use is the “new normal.”
“Anong napakasamang implikasyon nito? Itong mga tao na ito, akala nila, ‘yung paggamit ng shabu ngayon ay ‘yan na ‘yung sinasabi natin ngayon na new normal. Normal na ‘yan, legal na ang paggamit ng shabu dahil very proud silang ipakitasa buong mundo na sila’y gumagamit ng shabu,” said Dela Rosa.
He also raised concerns about its influence on children.
“Ano ngayon ang maitatanim sa utak ng kabataan? ‘Uy, sikat pala ngayon kapag gumagamit ka ng shabu!’ Kumikita ka pa, may content ka, content creator ka, yumayaman ka dahil maraming views, kumikita ka,” the senator from Mindanao said.
“At iisipin ng mga bata, natural lang ‘yan, normal lang ‘yan. So anong magiging kinabukasan ng Pilipinas? Wala na! Lugmok tayo dito sa problema natin sa illegal drugs. I don’t know kung saan tayo pupunta dito. Bakit gano’n ang nangyari?”
Dela Rosa urged barangay officials to support his reelection so he could push for the death penalty for high-level drug traffickers.
Drawing from his experience as Bureau of Corrections chief, he noted that convicted traffickers exploit the lack of capital punishment.
“Kahit na mahuli kami, makulong kami, makonbikto kami, tuloy pa rin yung pagpapatakbo namin sa aming drug business sa labas ng Bilibid,” he said.IMT
