President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed renewed determination on Wednesday evening to combat the country’s prevailing problem on illegal drugs and criminality.
“I really intend to go hard within the last two years of my term,” President Duterte said, citing the possible return of criminal activities amid the gradual opening of the economy.
The Chief Executive also reiterated his call to authorities to avoid storing seized contrabands from anti-illegal drugs operations as he does not want to see them stockpiled.
“If it is confirmed three times, hindi lang isa, three times, sunugin na kaagad. And yung sample na nakuha, na-certify ng fiscal, ‘yun na ang ebidensya (If it is confirmed three times, not just once but three times, burn it immediately. The sample certified by the fiscal will be the evidence),” Pres. Duterte said.
“Kasi kung hindi, ang droga ninanakaw, nire-recycle. Pabalik-balik na lang tayo na walang katapusan. So this has to end (If not, the drugs will be stolen and recycled. It is just an endless cycle. This has to end),” he added.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Aῆo reported that the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have already destroyed Php 8 billion worth of illegal drugs last August 21 or before the directive of the president.
“Sa Tanza, Cavite, more or less sa PNP po, 369.69 kilograms ang ide-destroy natin tomorrow at ang natitira naman pong 700 kilograms ay ipine-prepare po namin habang hinihintay namin ‘yung order galing sa Korte, naka-ready na rin po ito (More or less 369.69 kilograms will be destroyed tomorrow by the PNP in Tanza, Cavite. The remaining 700 kilograms are being prepared pending a court order),” Año disclosed. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
