Former Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III has put forward a proposal for the establishment of a Presidential Drug Enforcement Authority during a political rally in Iloilo City. This new body would merge the existing Dangerous Drugs Board and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, aiming to enhance the nation’s battle against illegal drugs by unifying efforts in enforcement, prosecution, prevention, and rehabilitation. Sotto, a key figure in the enactment of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, believes that integrating these agencies will streamline the approach to tackling both illegal drugs and substance abuse, which he described as distinct issues requiring different strategies.
In addition to his drug policy, Sotto advocated for government rightsizing, pointing out that personnel costs make up a significant portion of the national budget. He argued that creating the new drug enforcement authority would help eliminate redundancies and improve efficiency within government operations.
The rally also featured other candidates from the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate, including former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Makati Mayor Abigail Binay, and several senators and former senators. Each candidate shared their platforms, with Manny Pacquiao focusing on boosting funding for small and medium enterprises to foster job creation, Abalos calling for amendments to the Local Government Code to enhance policy implementation, and Camille Villar emphasizing job creation and housing with innovative solutions. Erwin Tulfo proposed measures to combat inflation, increase wages, and improve healthcare access.