By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA
MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) took as a challenge the recent remark of President Rodrigo Duterte that the drug problem in the country has worsened despite the relentless war against illegal drugs.
“That’s a big challenge on us. I think hindi tayo susurender dyan kailanman. (We will never ever surrender) We look at it as a challenge,” PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde said in a press conference.
Albayalde believed the President was just expressing his frustration when he said the illegal drug problem has worsened and that the police officers are on the brink of surrendering.
“Parang it’s not actually surrendering na parang ayaw na ng PNP (as if the PNP wants to give up). It’s some sort of frustration na bakit(that) despite our effort, ‘yung (the) campaign on anti-illegal drugs sabi nga nya (he actually said) it’s relentless, deadly and all and still ganun pa rin (the same),” Albayalde explained.
Albayalde emphasized that the PNP will not stop its crackdown against illegal drugs despite the interception of PHP1.9 billion worth of illegal drugs at the Manila International Container Port last Friday.
“Our peace and order is improving. It has improved a lot for the past three years. ‘Yung (The) frustration there is despite of this effortnakikita natin ganyan pa rin volume ng pasok sa drugs sa ating bansa (the volume of drugs being brought to the country has not changed),” he said.
He stressed the need to improve the capabilities and equipment of law enforcers to boost the war on drugs.
He also said drug peddlers continue to operate in the country due to the absence of death penalty.
PNP spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac said the PNP agreed with Duterte’s views that the illegal drug problem has worsened because international drug syndicates continue to ignore Philippine laws by smuggling large volume of prohibited drugs into the country.
“This can be seen with the recent recovery at the Manila International Container Port and buy-bust operation in Alabang. Napakarami po niyan at maging ‘yung recovery ng cocaine sa eastern seaboard ng bansa,” (There’s so many and even the recovery of cocaine in the country’s seaboard,” Banac said.
For his part, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino said the interception of big volume of drugs was positive indicator that war on drugs is very effective.
“With the recent billions of peso worth of illegal drug seized by PDEA and other law enforcement agencies, the President’s and even the ordinary people’s impression that the illegal drug operations are worsening is normal,” Aquino said in a statement.
Aquino said government enforcers continued to coordinate and share intelligence report with each other that resulted in the arrest of drug peddlers and confiscation of big volume of illegal drugs.
“What is important is that authorities are able to prevent these illegal drugs from flooding our streets,” he said.
“It is good now (that) we are able to intercept these big volumes of illegal drugs and the good thing we are having a good and open communication with international counterparts,” he added.
