SEVERAL local government officials in Cebu province have shown their support on President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to bring back the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the government’s war against illegal drugs.
Gov. Hilario Davide III said bringing back the police in the drug war would be the right thing to do.
Davide said that PDEA is leading the war against drugs because it is the agency mandated to do that job.
However, he cited the PDEA’s lack of manpower on why the police should go back in playing a major role in the war against drugs.
“They (PDEA) need help from the PNP because they are undermanned. And where would they get the necessary support but from the police?” Davide said.
For her part, Carmen Remedios “Ivy” Durano-Meca, Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) head, said in an earlier interview that PDEA’s lack of manpower had been a challenge in its job in the war against drugs.
“Our police, their presence is everywhere. They’re more exposed, and that’s why the police’s role is important to reinforce the PDEA,” said Davide.
On November 22, President Duterte said he would eventually return to the PNP the conduct of the anti-drug operations in the country.
This was a month after he issued a memorandum to give this responsibility solely to PDEA due to mounting public criticisms of the police over drug-related killings, particularly in several cases involving teenagers.
He said he would return jurisdiction over his controversial war on drugs to the PNP if PDEA would fail to address the illegal drug trade in the country.
PDEA welcomed Duterte’s plan to bring back the police in the war against drugs.
But as of last Tuesday, Duterte had yet to act on this plan.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the President was still considering the matter.
Meanwhile, Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot also echoed Davide’s sentiments.
Loot said that the role of police in eradicating the illegal drug menace, particularly in the barangay level, is important.
“The police can really help, considering the handicap on PDEA’s part — particularly on the number of personnel and the scope of their coverage. Although PDEA is still the lead agency, the police can really help because they have enough resources and personnel down to the (barangay) level,” said Loot, who had been included by Duterte at the start of the drug war in his list of government officials allegedly linked to illegal drugs.
Loot had vehemently denied the allegations.
The former police general was in Cebu City last Tuesday to attend the culmination of Our Cebu program of the Cebu provincial government and the Ramon Aboitiz
Foundation Inc. (RAFI) where local government units and police units that had been active in the fight against illegal drugs were recognized by CPADAO through its Sugbo Kontra Droga (Sukod) program.
Loot was among the Cebu provincial town mayors, who attended the event.
Naga City’s anti-drug abuse council (ADAC) was awarded as the best-performing among all six component cities under Cebu province. Liloan town, in the municipal level, defended their title as the grand champion in the list of top-performing Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC).
The Bogo City Police Station, which earlier gained international attention when US-based The Washington Post lauded their efforts on achieving a “bloodless” war on drugs, was awarded as the top performing police unit in the city category.
Consolacion Police Station of Consolacion town in northern Cebu was the grand champion in the municipal category.
Several netizens, however, questioned the legitimacy and purpose of the recognition.
In response, Davide said that the awards and recognition do not serve as “absolute indicators” that towns and cities are considered “drug-free.”
“It doesn’t mean that the problem on illegal drugs is completely gone, and it’s (not an assurance) that it’s drug-free. This is a ceremony (aimed on recognizing)
ADACs and law enforcement agencies who are actively fighting against illegal drugs (through legislative measures and programs to name some),” Davide stated.
The seven criteria for awarding Sukod’s top-performing LGUs include the functionality of their anti-drug abuse councils, funds, legislative measures, participation of educational institutions, youth involvement, healthcare initiatives, and performance of law enforcement officers.
Sukod started in 2016, the same year when Davide appointed Meca to lead CPADAO.