Possible to eradiicate illegal drugs in 6 months - PNP

DAGUPAN CITY – The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) are positive that the drive of the Duterte administration to eradicate illegal drugs in the country in  a span of six months is possible and achievable .

Police Sr. Supt. Ronald Lee, acting provincial director of Pangasinan PNP, said the police force is highly motivated in the fulfilment of their tasks especially on the anti-drug campaign.

“Kayang-kaya ‘yan (na ma-achieve) dahil una, mismong si Presidente Duterte at  ang  Chief PNP nagsabi na nasa  likod namin sila.  Second is, every agency, nagtutulungan at iisa ang layunin. Pangatlo, ang community na mismo ang nagrereport,” Lee said during the first quarter meeting of the Provincial Anti- Drug Abuse Council held on Thursday.

Lee said since the agencies that constitute the PADAC help each other, there is no competition on information today because it is readily available. He said the community is now actively involved in reporting and even the drug personalities themselves surrender to authorities.

“If you were surprised on the number of drug personalities who surrendered, nagulat din kami. Tatayo ang balahibo niyo pag narinig ninyo ang kwento nila at nangyari sa kanilang  buhay,” Lee added.

Regional Director Jeoffrey Topacio of PDEA in the Ilocos agreed with the PNP that  drug eradication in six months is achievable.

“Kayang- kaya  talaga ‘yan  lalo na at we have an organized group doing the  effort at nagtutulungan  maging drug-free ang community,” Topacio said during the PADAC meeting.

Topacio added that  in less than a month, many drug personalities have surrendered and that their operating work in the community is  suppressed.

“Natatakot sila  (drug personalities) ngayon. Noon, sila ang siga sa isang lugar,” the PDEA chief added.

The provincial government also showed its all-out support to the eradication of  illegal drugs in the province with the intensification of the  Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADAC)   from the provincial down to the municipal, city and barangay levels.

Governor Amado Espino III said the intensified ADACs is the province’s answer to President Duterte’s drive against illegal drugs. He said the Council will talk about what the province can do to achieve the goal. (VHS/PIA-Pangasinan)