The presence of newly-installed Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos in anti-illegal drugs operations will serve as a morale-booster for the Philippine National Police (PNP), a police official said.
Police Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba, chief of the PNP-Public Information Office, said Abalos' statement is also an assurance of support to the PNP's aggressive campaign against illegal drugs.
"The PNP welcomes the gesture of support of Secretary Benhur Abalos to the PNP anti-drug campaign in his pronouncement to join police operations against drug activities," said Alba.
"Actions like these are certainly morale boosters for frontline law enforcers coming from the highest official of the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) himself. It augurs well with national policy to sustain the momentum of the national campaign against illegal drugs," he added.
Abalos vowed to sustain the momentum in the war on drugs which was started by President Duterte in July 2016.
But he emphasized the need to conduct the operations within the bounds of the law, particularly on human rights.
The drug was has been the subject of intense criticisms even abroad due to the number of what they described as questionable deaths of suspected illegal drug pushers and users.
More than 6,000 suspected drug pushers and users were killed in police operations while thousands more died at the hands of vigilante groups.
Alba said the commitment made by Abalos in the war on drugs is a welcome development for the PNP.
"For sure , it will boost the morale of our personnel and improve our legal offensive against illegal drugs and criminality," said Alba.