‘Drug-positive lawmakers should be removed’

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the House of Representatives who are reportedly included in President Duterte’s narco list should be stripped of their positions if they are proven to be involved in the illegal drug trade, an administration lawmaker said yesterday. 

“Under our rules for as long as there is basis where an agency was able to validate their alleged involvement in drugs, and if there is a case filed in court against any House member, perhaps the next step is removal,” Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said over radio station dzBB.

“We have a process in Congress. Maybe it will go through hearings in the committee on ethics,” Barbers, chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, added.

But where cases involve capital offenses, Barbers said there might be no need for ethics committee hearings. 

Meanwhile, another lawmaker lamented that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) may have gone overboard with its plan to impose mandatory annual surprise drug screening tests on teachers and school children starting from Grade 4.

“While I fully support President Duterte’s anti-narcotics campaign which has been a game changer in terms of improving public order, the PDEA’s plan to subject children to a drug test may have a negative psychological effect on young minds,” Rep. Winston Castelo said. 

In a statement, Castelo said “protecting the mental wellbeing of children definitely has more weight than the PDEA’s purpose of identifying potential drug dependents.” ?

Castelo, chairman of the House committee on Metro Manila development, added that under the recently enacted Philippine Mental Health Law, it has become the responsibility of government to protect not only the physical but also the mental health of Filipinos.?

According to Castelo, PDEA’s “justification that the proposal was meant to identify potential drug users so they can get intervention while they are still young is too far-fetched.” ?

“The PDEA should instead focus its campaign on educating the youth and their parents of the devastating effects of drugs and provide intervention facilities to those who are hooked on illegal substances,”?he said. 

“It does not matter if the results of the drug tests on children will be kept confidential as the PDEA had indicated in its plan, since the tests may involve parameters that will violate not only privacy but also health conditions and dignity of young individuals,” Castelo added. 

Castelo is advising the PDEA to hold the widest consultation possible with parents, legislators and community leaders before launching the unpopular plan.