ABANG Lingkod party-list Representative Stephen Paduano defended his vote supporting the legalization of the use of medical marijuana in the country.
Paduano said that before the House of Representatives approved the measure, public hearings were done and that the passage was not done by the Congress overnight.
Paduano said that the Filipino people should open to the reality about the medical importance of marijuana.
He said that President Rodrigo Duterte assured that he will sign the bill into law once it is passed by both Houses in Congress.
Paduano also explained that there have been several sick people who attended during the public hearings who testified the usage and effectiveness of marijuana for their sickness.
The legal use of marijuana for medical purposes has been practiced in other countries.
Paduano emphasized that proper regulation will be imposed and that the legalization of medical marijuana does not mean that planting it everywhere will be allowed as using it for pleasure and drug addiction is still strictly prohibited.