Roxas, Duterte camps trade shots over drugs in Davao City

The first presidential debate may be over, but the camps of Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel "Mar" Roxas II and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte are still at it, this time over the supposed presence of illegal drugs in Davao City.

After Sunday's first PiliPinas Debates 2016, Roxas claimed that illegal drugs can easily be bought in Davao City, where Duterte has been mayor for many years.

"May droga sa Davao ngayon," said Roxas. "Ngayon lang, gusto mo samahan kita e, makakabili tayo ng droga sa Davao e."

Duterte's spokesperson Peter Laviña hit back that Roxas was an "accomplice and protector of drug lords."

"He did not only exhibit irresponsible citizenship by not reporting to authorities where drugs are being peddled, he has, in fact, become an accomplice in protecting drug lords and drug pushers," Laviña said.

Laviña said Roxas deserves to "go to jail, not to Malacanang" for having knowledge of illegal drugs but not acting on it.

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, a spokesperson of the Liberal Party, defended Roxas' statement.

"Mar being a former Secretary has connections with the intelligence community, having information where drugs proliferate at this point in time is not a crime," said Erice.

Roxas served as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government before he formalized his bid for the presidency.

Laviña said Roxas is merely going on an offensive to pull down Duterte.

"He is painting others black so he will look white," he said.

The Roxas camp, meanwhile, told Duterte to admit his own shortcomings.

"Duterte cannot pass on his failings to Mar," Akbayan Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez, another spokesperson for the LP-led coalition, said in a text message.

"Duterte was Mayor for more than two decades. He was chair of the regional peace and order council. What has he done?" Gutierrez noted.

"'Eto na naman si Mayor, pag nabuking naghahanap ng masisisi," Gutierrez added. –VS/JST, GMA News