MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Congressional aspirant and Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian on Wednesday said his city has 鈥済otten a lot better鈥� because of the national government鈥檚 war on drugs, adding that it is not a failure.
鈥淚n my opinion, in every democracy, things can be improved. I won鈥檛 say it鈥檚 a failure, it鈥檚 not. I鈥檓 here on the ground. I can see the effects. It鈥檚 really gotten a lot better. It鈥檚 not perfect, but it鈥檚 gotten a lot better,鈥� Gatchalian told INQside Look.
鈥淚鈥檓 on the ground. I鈥檝e been on the ground for the past eight years. I can compare from the last administration and this administration, and I can tell you point-blank, even if you ask our barangay captains, even if you ask the local enforcers, it鈥檚 gotten a lot better,鈥� he added.
Noting that the anti-illegal drug campaign is not perfect, Gatchalian said that it could be improved and the national government is doing its part to enhance it.
鈥淵es, there are critics, nakikinig din naman tayo sa mga sentimyento nila kaya doon pumapasok ang sagot ko. Walang perpekto na sistema, pwede naman ma-improve palagi and I know the national government is trying to find ways to improve it some more,鈥� the mayor said.
(Yes, there are critics, and we listen to their sentiments. That鈥檚 why I said it鈥檚 not perfect. There is no perfect system but it can be improved and I know聽the national government is trying to find ways to improve it some more.)
鈥淭hey鈥檝e taken strides in auditing their own ranks. They鈥檝e taken strides in auditing policemen. They鈥檝e taken strides from body cameras to all those. I think these are strides being made by the national government to show that they note and acknowledge that the systems can always be improved,鈥� he added.
On November 18, the informed the court鈥檚 pre-trial chamber, which authorized the probe on the alleged crimes against humanity in September, that he had 鈥渢emporarily suspended鈥� the investigation while the prosecution 鈥渁ssess the scope and effect鈥� of country鈥檚 deferral request.
On Tuesday, the I said it will ask the Philippine government for 鈥渢angible evidence鈥� of its probes on the alleged crimes against humanity under President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 war on drugs.
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