Fabregas: Duterte has lost control

Veteran actor and "Ang Probinsyano" star Jaime Fabregas was among those who went to the People Power Monument on Monday in protest over the killing of Kian Loyd Delos Santos whom police accused of peddling illegal drugs in Caloocan City.

"Well I think it's time na to stop, you know, standing lang around, not saying anything, not doing anything. I think itong pagpatay kay Kian has brought everything to the fore already. Wala nang control si (President Rodrigo) Duterte sa nangyayari. Siya na ang kino-control ng mga tao niya," said Fabregas, who plays the role of police Director General Delfin Borja on the hit TV series.

Fabregas also asked for the drug-related killings to stop, saying that the killings are not the solution to the country's problems.

"Alam mo, because of this all-out war of his, it's going out of control and it has to be stopped. It really has to stopped," he said.

Fabregas hopes that Delos Santos' death will bring awareness and make people start voicing their opinion against drug-related killings.

"Well, I hope, awareness. Not necessarily for the president and his minions, because they will always find, and even 'yung mga die-hard Duterte (fans) ano, but maybe those people who are, anong tawag doon, toeing the line, people on the fringes na hindi pa nila alam kung saan sila pupunta, because what we really need is a full force. We really need stronger voices and stuff like that, to come out and start talking," he said.

"We're telling him, okay we'll give you leeway. Bibigyan ka namin ng pagkakataong ayusin ang bayan natin pero hindi sa ganitong paraan. This is where we put our foot down," Fabregas added.

When asked for a solution, Fabregas said it will be better for the government to focus on poverty reduction rather killing people suspected of involvement in the illegal drug trade.

"The drug problem is, I think, for one, it's there because of poverty. I don't know if you read the papers today about the confessions of a drug addict, sinasabi, especially talking about shabu, kasi wala na akong makain, wala na kaming makain. If you hit at poverty, it might be a longer term thing, but so is killings. It's not solving anything," he said.

He said drug addiction is a disease and should not be penalized as a criminal act.

"Why are you killing the users? These people have problems. The use of drugs is a disease. It's not a criminal act. Pushing, yes, perhaps. But using is not, it's a disease," Fabregas said. - with a report from Benise Balaoing, ABS-CBN News