Manila, Feb. 13 -- Former Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on Thursday proposed the creation of a Presidential Drug Enforcement Authority to unify and strengthen the country's fight against illegal drugs.

Speaking at the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas proclamation rally in Iloilo City, Sotto stressed the need to consolidate the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) under a single authority that would be in charge of enforcement, prosecution, and rehabilitation.

"Pag-iisahin ko ang Dangerous Drugs Board atsaka ang Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. Gagawin nating Presidential Drug Enforcement Authority na kung saan haharapin ng diretso ang problema sa prosecution, enforcement, preventio...