IP leader believes moral values will solve illegal drug problem

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 3) — The illegal drug problem has been at the forefront in the Duterte administration, and it is not without controversies.

Asked on how to tackle the issue, Senatorial hopeful Agnes Escudero said that she wants families to have strong moral values to help combat the drug menace.

"Kailangan ugatin ng bawat pamilya ang moral values. Kung matino kang tao, kahit lagyan ng milyon-milyon na pera at kadami-dami na droga, kung ayaw mo talaga di ka gagamit niyan," Escudero said in CNN Philippines #TheFilipinoVotes Senatorial forum.

[Translation: Families need to have strong moral values. If you're a good person, even if you're tempted with millions of cash and lots of drugs, you won't use it. ]

Families, the indigenous peoples rights advocate said, have a crucial role in the anti-drug campaign.

"I really wanted more moral values from the parents, from every single Filipino family, na talagang pag-usapan pamilya sa pamilya na kailangan wag tayong mag-pabor sa ganyan," she said.

[Translation: It's important that families talk about why we should say “no” to drugs.]

Escudero believes that other countries are conspiring to get more Filipinos into drugs.

"It's really a sad reality. We are a product of conspiracy of different countries na talagang nagdadala ng ganyan sa bansa (that bring drugs to the country," she said.