Abalos says inter-agency partnership vital in fight vs lawlessness
By Chito Chavez
The inter-agency cooperation is a major force in the country’s continuing fight against all forms of criminality like illegal drugs, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. said on Monday, Dec. 12.
Abalos emphasized the need to support the police forces that are often harassed by influential crime groups when their cohorts get arrested or charged in court.
“Tandaan natin ang kalaban natin dito malaking pera, malaking sindikato ito eh at ang malupit pa nito is most of the time yung arresting officers tatakutin pa nila yan, idedemanda nila yan. (Let us remember that our adversaries have large amounts of cash, they are big-time syndicates and what is worst is most of the time the arresting officers are coerced and charged in court),’’ Abalos said.
With this scenario, Abalos appealed to the public to overwhelmingly support the law enforcement authorities in their crime-busting duties they are performing down to the barangays to improve the peace and order situation in the country.
At the same time, Abalos warned the scalawags to mend their ways before the law catches up with them as evidenced by the police arresting the agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during a buy-bust operation in Taguig City.
“Yung mga scalawags, asahan niyo we will go after you kasi ang hirap kung nasa giyera ka
tapos yung nasa likod mo binabaril ka sa ulo (To the scalawags, expect that we will run after you since it is difficult to fight a war when there is someone shooting you at your back),’’ he added.
The DILG chief also explained that the illegal drug problem is worldwide in response to critics of the country’s supposed numerous illegal drug incidents.
“Number one, itong (illegal drugs) problema na ito ay hindi lang sa Pilipinas, ultimo mga mayayaman na bansa, ayoko ko na lang magbanggit ng bansa pero yung mayayaman na
pumunta ka sa lugar nila, andaming mga adik nakahiga sa kalye (Number one, this problem does not only occur in the Philippines, even the wealthy countries, I do not want to identify them, but if you go to their places there are many drug addicts lying on the streets),’’ Abalos pointed out. (Chito A. Chavez)