By Jelly Musico/PNA
MANILA — Malacanang welcomed on Sunday Pope Francis’ remarks urging governments to combat drug addiction and courageously undertake the fight against “traffickers of death.”
“We consider Vatican’s remarks as a boost in our campaign, as we battle the twin evils of crimes and drugs,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press statement.
Panelo said the Pope’s remarks during the Vatican conference held from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, with the theme “Drugs and Addictions: An Obstacle to Integral Human Development,” are “not only relevant but also timely, when it comes to our country’s present situation.”
Pope Francis called on everyone to fight the production and distribution of illegal drugs and urged governments “to face with this courage this fight against the traffickers of death.”
“This is precisely the rationale behind the President’s war on illegal drugs in the Philippines: to save the young and future generations of Filipinos from the drug scourge,” Panelo said.
“Laudable developments have been achieved by the current administration in this regard, notwithstanding the noise coming from the loud minority composed of his detractors and critics here and abroad,” he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte lived up to his election campaign promise in the 2016 polls, launching a relentless war against illegal drugs right after his inauguration as the country’s 16th President.
