EDITORIAL – Robredo’s anti-drug war needs balanced approach

We have yet to see the actual approach of the new drug czar, Vice President Leni Robredo, towards the illegal drug trade. What we have heard so far was her constant announcements that she wants to ride on a campaign that aims to achieve zero casualties.

As a fierce critic of Duterte administration’s war on drugs that has already killed thousands of people across the country, Robredo claims the law enforcement’s intensified crusade has been tainted with extrajudicial killings.

So, aiming to change the system, the vice president promised to heighten rehabilitation efforts for drug addicts rather than continuing to engage in what she claims as a flawed system in which many lives were lost in police operations.

Her idea is commendable, no doubt about it, as far the need to reform drug addicts goes. However, whether such approach will succeed considering the unabated proliferation of illegal drugs in the country remains to be seen.

As we see it, any rehabilitation effort for those hooked on drugs will never achieve success as long as the supply remains abundant. Unless the flow of drugs is contained at the very source, any rehabilitation program is doomed to fail.

To win the drug battle, there must be a balanced approach to every aspect of the drive. That is because the government cannot gain the upper hand by just heightening the rehab program while, at the same time, loosening the campaign against those involve in the drug trade for fear of casualties.

Yes, whether they come from the police or the enemies, casualties during anti-drug operations are inevitable because drug pushers and dealers are expected to be armed and will not hesitate to fight back if cornered.

As Robredo wants the anti-drug campaign to sport a clean image when she starts calling the shots as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs (ICAD), attaining a zero-casualty mission is certainly impossible.