Drugs rampant in Davao, Makati, Mar insists

MANILA, Philippines - Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II yesterday continued to hit his rivals after their debate in Mindanao, urging them to stop confusing voters with what he described as “false” claims.

Roxas particularly questioned Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that he can solve problems on criminality, drugs and corruption in three to six months.

“Davao has the fourth highest incidence of crime in the entire country. There are drugs in Davao. If you want, I can bring you there. We can buy drugs in Davao. So it’s not true that he can do it,” Roxas said.

“He has been a mayor of Davao for so long and yet he failed to do it. Why would we believe him?” he added.

Roxas also claimed that one can buy illegal drugs in Makati, the bailiwick of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“The same is true in Makati. There are drugs in Makati. We can buy shabu, we can buy cocaine, we can buy heroin. I know that! That’s the news that reached me,” he said.

The LP presidential bet claimed during last Sunday’s debate that poverty remains a problem in East and West Rembo in Makati, where Binay served as mayor for several years.

Binay refuted this, saying poverty has been addressed in the two villages because of the city government’s programs.

Roxas challenged the claims of Duterte and Binay after reporters had asked him if he can solve criminality, corruption and the drug menace in three to six months.

“Let us not deceive. Let us not sow confusion,” Roxas said.

“Our countrymen deserve serious, meaningful and doable programs. This is not about tirades or lines. The lives of 100 million Filipinos are at stake here,” he added.

Roxas has been lagging in presidential surveys despite his claims of a clean record and the endorsement of President Aquino.

He ranked fourth in the Social Weather Stations poll conducted this month with 18 percent, lower than the 21 percent he got last month.

Binay topped the survey with 29 percent while Sen. Grace Poe and Duterte were tied with 24 percent.