Abalos: DILG, PNP to make big announcement in campaign vs drugs next week

CEBU CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) will make a big announcement in the campaign against illegal drugs next week.
DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said details of the announcement remain confidential but the DILG and the PNP have already taken necessary steps in preparation for the actual announcement.
Abalos hinted of the upcoming announcement when he and PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. held a command visit to the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7) headquarters here on Tuesday, Dec. 27.
In a speech, Abalos urged law enforcers in Region 7 to do their job especially in the campaign against illegal drugs.
Abalos said there is a need to further intensify the illegal drug campaign after some members of law enforcement agencies such as the PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency were arrested in recent operations.
He urged the police to enforce the law and arrest drug peddlers even if they are high-profile personalities.
“For the last five-and-a-half months, the seized illegal drugs because of the competency of chief PNP Azurin have totaled to P10 billion approximately. The biggest was the P7.7 billion, 990 kilos of shabu that was seized in Manila,” said Abalos.
Abalos described the recent arrests of PNP and PDEA personnel as a “bad sign” in the war on drugs.
He urged the PRO-7 personnel to rally behind the campaign against illegal drugs.
Abalos also reminded law enforcers to follow the rule of law in the conduct of the drug war.
“That is I expect of each and everyone because this is what I tell you, there will be no shortcuts. We have a law to follow, we have a system to follow,” Abalos said.