Philippines should learn from Colombia's experience, says Leni

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo supported the position of a former president of Colombia that the government of President Rodrigo Duterte is committing a mistake in its approach to illegal drugs.

In her first press conference since resigning from the Cabinet, Robredo said that the Philippines should learn from the experiences of countries that tried militarily fighting drugs.

Robredo said that it was important for the government to listen to the experiences of these nations so the Philippines would not commit the mistakes they did.

"Tingin ko mahalaga yung statement nung former president of Colombia dahil dumaan siya sa ganun na track. Mahalaga yung kwento niya hindi para sundin kundi para pulutan natin ng aral," the vice president said.

In an opinion piece that appeared in the New York Times, Colombian former President Cesar Gaviria said that Duterte was repeating his mistakes.

"Throwing more soldiers and police at the drug users is not just a waste of money but also can actually make the problem worse," the leader of Colombia from 1990 to 1994 said.

Characteristically, Duterte shot back at Gaviria and called him an "idiot."

"Sabi nila yung Colombia has been lecturing me about my, that idiot," Duterte said in a speech before the Customs Bureau on Wednesday.

Robredo said that it would be beneficial for the Philippines to study the points raised by Gaviria in his opinion piece such as the decriminalization of drug use which was effective in Portugal.

Robredo also urged the government to treat the drug problem of the country as a social problem instead of a military one.

Duterte's campaign against illegal drugs has claimed about 7,000 lives. Local and international human rights groups and individuals have criticized the government for alleged human rights violations committed in the name of the government's efforts to eradicate illegal narcotics in the the country.