MANILA — Instead of pointing out each other’s lapses, Malacañang on Monday urged both the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to focus on retrieving the PHP6.8 billion worth of “shabu” (crystal meth), which allegedly slipped into the country last August.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this remark emphasizing the need for close coordination between the two agencies to curb the illegal drug trade and prevent similar events from recurring.
“Hindi na mahalaga kung sino sa kanila ang tama sa kanilang mga sinasabi (It’s no longer important who between them is saying the right thing),” Panelo said in an interview over Radyo Pilipinas.
“Ang mahalaga ngayon, assuming na may nakapasok, eh dapat gumawa tayo ng mga pagkilos upang masawata natin, mahuli natin, ma-raid natin iyong mga lugar kung saan nagtatago (What’s important, assuming the drugs entered, is that we should start acting to catch, raid the places where they are sold),” he added.
Panelo insisted that the government cannot rely on speculations alone and needed “hard evidence” to prove claims that the drugs are being sold in the streets.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte earlier said that the PDEA’s claim about the billions worth of shabu is based on “pure speculation.”
“Ang sinasabi nga ni Presidente — ay kailangan may hard evidence tayo. Hindi pupuwede iyong nag-e-speculate ka lang (What the President always says — there should be hard evidence. You can’t just speculate),” Panelo said.
He also assured that Duterte still trusts both Lapeña and Aquino.
“May tiwala naman siya (Duterte) doon sa dalawa. So hintayin natin iniimbestigahan ngayon ng NBI (The President still trusts the two. So let’s wait for the investigation of the National Bureau of Investigation),” he added. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)
