ILOILO CITY – Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. said this city is far from being a “shabulized” – a word created by then President Rodrigo Duterte referring to shabu.
INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos joins the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) Fun Run last Saturday, April 20, in Iloilo City. (DILG Philippines)
“If that term ‘shabulized’ city was used years before, it’s different now,” said Abalos during the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) Fun Run last Saturday.
Iloilo City earned the ire of Duterte who insisted that local officials, including then Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and police officers, were protectors of the illegal drugs trade.
“It’s now different under the administration of Mayor Jerry Treñas,” Abalos said. “With the Marcos administration, we are doing a whole-of-nation approach,” Abalos added.
Abalos led the more than 8,000 individuals from different sectors who joined the fun run.
“This is the city government's advocacy against illegal drugs. We rise against drugs, and we run from drugs,” said Treñas in a statement.