DAVAO CITY — In his effort to end the illegal drug trade in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday has made an appeal to the newly elected local officials not to violate people’s trust by staying away from the illegal drug trade.
“I hope that huwag lang sanang magsali uli itong mga — hindi naman ako nagwa-warning kasi paalis na ako,” President Duterte said during his Talk to the People program aired on Thursday.
“Ang pakiusap ko lang, iyong mga mayors to be true to — the governors and all of the officials especially those elected by the people — do not violate the trust that the people has reposed on us kasi lalo na ‘yung sa droga.”
Tackling the proliferation of illicit narcotics is an uphill battle for the government considering the huge amount of money involved, he said, stressing it can’t be addressed by simple police or military operation.
“Mahirap. Noon nga sabi ko milyon-milyon; ngayon, bilyon-bilyon na. Ang market nito is… Kaya ito talaga, it has to be a war. Hindi ito sabihin mo special operation ng pulis o military,” he pointed out, noting the drug trade is a sinister and virulent activity that affects a nation’s life.
The President said he would insist on a continuance of the drug war, and vowed to remain active in fighting illegal drugs even if he becomes a private citizen after his term.
Pointing to the next administration, he said, “I hope that I said the next administration would be maybe a stronger pressure sa ginawa ko, mas mabuti. Pabalik-balik ‘yung droga eh. Hindi talaga maano.”
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in his report to the President that although it’s election season, authorities have conducted 566 anti-drug operations. Three hundred ninety-seven of those operations are buy-bust operations.
The police buy-bust resulted in the arrest of 795 persons, with 14 individuals surrendering. One person died during the anti-drug operations, according to Secretary Año.
In total, authorities netted P76.8 million worth of shabu and marijuana.-Eugene Hinutan
