Tagged by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency as one of the cities in Manila with a 100-percent drug affectation rate, Pasay was the latest area to be visited by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who are running under a strong anti-crime and anti-illegal drugs platform.
The tandem listened to the stories and concerns of city’s residents on Wednesday as part of their “Ronda-Serye” listening tour held at Barangay 188, Pasay City.
“Nakakalungkot at nakakabahala ang mga kwento nila. Sobra na ang hirap at gulo sa buhay nila. Si Aling Cynthia, 59 years old, naikwento niya na ang anak niya at asawa nito ay mga drug addicts mula bata. Hindi nakapagtapos, may 7 anak, natanggal sa trabaho dahil sa bisyo. Minsan, part-time drug courier pa para makalibre ng shabu. Ang mga anak napabayaan. Walang makain. Walang pambayad sa renta ng bahay,” Cayetano said.
Several other women shared how the drug problem in their area has destroyed their families. But while they continue to suffer, they said they find hope in the tandem’s bold and swift solutions to fight crime and illegal drugs.
Duterte and Cayetano vowed to wage a 24/7 war against crime and illegal drugs by mobilizing the “best and brightest” of the military and police. Part of this is improving law enforcers’ salaries and imposing harsh punishment for “rotten cops” and abusive soldiers.
In the first presidential debate held at Cagayan de Oro, Duterte set a three- to six-month time period as a “restriction” for him to ensure that people will immediately feel the effects of his campaign against crime and drugs. “This is an imposed restriction from me, hindi ako nagpapabilib sa inyo,” Duterte said.
The duo also said they will establish a “bank of the poor” to provide people with access to capital and alternative livelihood to prevent them from engaging in criminal acts for a living. “Ang pinapautang dapat ng gobyerno ay mahihirap, hindi lang mayayaman,” Cayetano said.
“Magagawa lang ang mga ito kung may lider na may matapang na solusyon, mabilis na aksyon, at tapang at tibay ng loob para tapusin ang gulo at hirap ng tao. Ito ang dala namin ni Mayor Duterte sa eleksyong ito,” Cayetano said.