Crack down on drugs, hired killers, new police chief told

Lingayen- - -Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. advised the new PNP provincial police chief to pay special attention to drug trafficking and motor cycle riding assassins.

OIC PD Sr. Supt. Sterling Raymund Lazo

The marching orders were given by the governor, a former regional police director in the Ilocos region, to provincial police Officer-in-Charge PSSupt Sterling Raymund Blanco upon the latter’s appointment.

In a courtesy call to the governor held January 16, Gov. Espino said that being a police officer himself, he gives priority to the peace and order situation of the province.

 “Hiling ko lang na sana ay mabigyan ng special attention ang dumadaming kaso ng patayan lalo na ang riding-in-tandem at mga kaso na drug-related. Isa kasi ako sa mga main author ng anti-drug law (Dangerous Drugs Act) noong ako ay nasa kongreso kaya gusto ko na matutukan ito,” Gov. Espino disclosed as he added that as the provincial chief executive he has a moral obligation to take the lead in containing the crime.

Following the visit of the newly-installed PNP OIC, two officers from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) also paid a courtesy call to the governor- - -Adrian G. Alvarino, Director III of PDEA Region I and Dexter B. Asayco, PDEA Pangasinan Chief.

In the same way, Gov. Espino asked Alvarino to intensify its anti-drug campaign as he assured him of the full support of the provincial government.

It can be recalled that Gov. Espino has earlier appealed to all law enforcers and members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to put their acts together and come up with a more comprehensive, innovative, and stricter policy to combat the dangerous drugs menace which he dubbed, as “worst crime” he has ever seen.

The provincial government has also intensified its anti-illegal drugs campaign by involving the youth led by the provincial scholars.

A manifesto of commitment was then signed to showcase the active involvement of the youth in the campaign.

“The youth must be made to internalize themselves with the ill-effects of the menace through a doctrinal movement,” the governor previously stated as he added that guided by law his administration has set its sight to transform Pangasinan a dangerous drugs-free province in the future.

The provincial government, under the leadership of Gov. Espino, has been conducting proactive approach to keep the youth away from drugs like a year-round sports program, environmental activities and other worthy projects to mold a well-rounded personality of the youth.

/rrb