On illegal drugs: Noynoy has a lot of explaining to do

The ongoing crackdown by law enforcement authorities on illegal drugs, which has resulted in the capture, surrender and killing of alleged drug pushers and users, never happened during Noynoy Aquino’s watch as president.

Admittedly, the drug menace has long bedeviled this country. I am thus disturbed by the perceived lack of action—nay, insensitivity—regarding the problem displayed by the previous administration. It betrayed a seeming unconcern about the ill effects of dangerous drugs on the populace.

Remarkably, it now takes the “iron hand” of President Duterte, in tandem with the Philippine National Police chief, Director General Ronald dela Rosa, to deal with the problem vigorously. In the process, alleged drug personalities all over the country, notably including local government officials, are flushed out and eventually neutralized.

Really, former president Aquino has a lot of explaining to do.

—BARTOLOME C. FERNANDEZ JR., retired senior commissioner, Commission on Audit