Nothing to fear in PH if you’re not pusher or user, says Sotto

Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

“If you are not a pusher or a user, you have nothing to fear in the Philippines,” Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said on Wednesday.

Sotto was reacting to five-time Grammy award winner James Taylor’s cancellation of his show in Manila in February next year as he expressed concern over the alleged extrajudicial killings in the country.

“The scourge of addiction is a worldwide problem and does serious harm, not only to the addict but to our society,” Taylor wrote in a post on his Twitter account.

“For a sovereign nation to prosecute and punish, under the law, those responsible for the illegal trade in drugs is, of course, understandable, even commendable; but recent reports from the Philippines of summary executions of suspected offenders without trial or judicial process are deeply concerning and unacceptable to anyone who loves the rule of law,” he added.

READ: James Taylor cancels Manila concert due to PH drug, political issues

But Sotto, actor-turned-politician, twitted Taylor’s remark.

“Who loves the rule of law? Or loves the lure of drugs?!” the senator asked.

He said Taylor’s statement was not only baseless but only showed how illegal drugs are being tolerated in the United States.

“(It’s) not just baseless, it’s a sign of how illegal drugs [are] tolerated in their country kaya takot sila sa (that’s why they are afraid of the) strong arm approach to dangerous drugs,” said Sotto, who is part of the majority bloc in the Senate.

Except for Manila, Taylor said his other shows in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand will push through. RAM