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| Composite photo of President Rodrigo Duterte (grabbed from Inquirer) and RPOC chair and Legazpi Mayor Noel Rosa (photo from Legazpi govt site) |
Bicol Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) chairman and Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosa believes that President Rodrigo Duterte’s tagging of Naga as a “shabu hotbed” was backed up by data and might have basis.
Rosal said that it was not impossible for a major city to have the presence of illegal drugs.
“Hindi ako makakapagsabi kung totoo o hindi, pero ang masasabi ko lang dyan hindi imposible na may droga basta major cities. Everywhere you go, even in Legazpi, hindi ko yan pwede itago. Kaya nga continuous ang operations natin, as a matter of fact I would like to commend the PNP kasi we are moving forward na. Madami na tayong nahuli, not just small but big ones, almost more than 10 million na rin yung nakuha natin sa Legazpi,” Rosal said.
He pointed out that President Duterte’s statement must be based on reports from government agencies like Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Dangerous Drugs Board.
“Sa ngayon we cannot contradict, kahit saan talaga may droga. Sa Legazpi may nahuhuli, may surrenderees. But I agree with the hierarchy of the DILG at Dangerous Drugs Board, si Secretary Cuy, si Secretary Año ng DILG na syempre, continuous pa yung validation kung gaano kalaki talaga, kasi na-declare yan ng presidente based on reports naman yan,” the Legazpi mayor said.
Rosal said that the most urgent matter now is to determine how deep the so-called “hotbed” is in Naga City.
“Ang pinaka-issue na lang ngayon ay kung gaano kalalim yung hotbed talaga. Pero syempre, normal lang yung reaction ng mga taga Naga especially yung council. Papano na ngayon yung status mo as a city, but you cannot discount the statement of the president.” He said.*
Kailangan lang, itong mga taga DILG, Dangerous Drugs Board should see to it na yung statement ay may basehan,” Rosal added.
Malacanang said on Monday that there was no need for the president to show proof to the public that the home province of Vice President Leni Robredo was a breeding ground for shabu.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said that if Naga City officials strongly believe that Duterte’s remark is false, then they have to prove it otherwise.
“He doesn’t have to do that. He already has access to information. He said it. Let it be,” Roque said in a press briefing after being asked whether the president will show proof to back his claim.
“Kung sa tingin nila mali ang Presidente, hindi hotbed of… shabu ang Naga, patunayan nila. Labanan nila yung mga nagbebenta ng droga sa Naga at patunayan nila hindi talaga hotbed of shabu,” the spokesman reiterated.
Meanwhile, Robredo and Naga City Mayor John Bongat said on August 19 that the city council will file a Resolution of Indignation to condemn Duterte’s accusation.
“(A)ccusations like that is an insult against those from Naga. That’s unfair. That is why we are protesting this in the strongest of terms,” Robredo said.
“This morning, the city council gave me their Resolution of Indignation for (the damage) done to the reputation of Naga. We will not take this sitting down.” She added.
Sources: Manila Bulletin, Inquirer and The Daily Sentry
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