THE Philippine National Police leadership headed by Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr. has welcomed the pronouncement of new Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos regarding the Marcos government’s full support to the continuity of the force’s war on drugs.

“The PNP welcomes the gesture of support of DILG Sec Benjamin Abalos to the PNP anti-drug campaign in his pronouncement to join police operations against drug activities. Actions like these are certainly morale boosters for frontline law enforcers coming from the highest official of the DILG himself. It augurs well with national policy to sustain the momentum of the national campaign against illegal drugs,” said PNP Public Information Office chief, Brigadier Gen. Roderick Augustus B. Alba.

The PNP leadership said that Sec. Abalos’ pronouncement that he will join anti-drug raids will surely motivate the police force in pursuing its stepped-up campaign against drugs and all other forms of criminality.

“For sure , it will boost the morale of our personnel and improve our legal offensive against illegal drugs and criminality,” said Brig. Gen. Alba.

Sec. Abalos on Monday said that President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. has instructed him to continue the intensive war on drugs with the rule of law to be always observed by the police force.

The DILG chief said they will fully comply with the provisions of the Constitutions as they go against illegal drug traffickers and abusers.

“The war against drugs will be as intensive as before on the basis of my oath as a public official in accordance with the Constitution,” Abalos said.

He likewise stressed that every illegal drug case filed by the police should be ‘airtight’ since most of the investigations were deterred due to absence of a witness during the inventory of operations.

He also said that they will be partnering with all concerned government agencies and the public to win the battle against narcotics.

“We will involve other concerned government agencies, and most importantly, the communities, to make sure that we have a comprehensive campaign against illegal drugs,” he said.

Sec. Abalos added he would even join in some of the operations to sustain the gains in the anti-illegal drugs campaign. “I would like to mention to everyone in some of the drug raids sasama ako, sasama talaga ako rito to show people and to give motivation to our police and to show them ang gagawing mga raids is in accordance with the law,” he explained.

The new DILG chief is expected to become much busier if he would join major anti-narcotics operations in the country being spearheaded by the PNP Drug Enforcement Group headed by Brig. Gen. Randy Q. Peralta, the 17 Police Regional Offices and even the Philippine Drug Enforcement Group under Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva.

Last week alone, two separate anti-narcotics operations conducted by agents of the PDEA and the PNP resulted in the seizure of 16 kilograms of high-grade shabu worth nearly P110 million and the arrest of three top targets, two of them Chinese nationals.

Villanueva said that the Chinese nationals identified as Bin Hu,42, a resident of Ecoland Phase 1, Matina, Davao City and Jiankang Liang,40, of 1329-A Filmore Street corner Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City were arrested for conspiring to sell drugs to an undercover officer.

The sting was launched at the CPP Bay Terminal Parking lot in Barangay 720, Malate, Manila 6:45 p.m. last July 4 by members of the PDEA National Capital Region with the support of the Manila Police District Station 9 under Brig. Gen. Leo M. Francisco.

Recovered from the possession of the two duo who are both natives of Hunan, China were 15 kilos of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ valued at P102 million, the buy-bust money topped by two marked P1,000 bills and an android phone.

The 2nd operation conducted in front of the Max’s Restaurant in Bgy. Central, Quezon City Circle by members of the PDEA-NCR and the Q.C. Police District Station 10 at around 8:30 p.m. of the same day led in the arrest of Richard Allan de Asis, a 40-year old carpenter residing in Bgy. Bayanan, Purok 3 in Muntinlupa City.

Recovered from the possession of the suspect were a kilo of shabu worth P6.8 million, 11 bundles of boodle money topped by a marked P1,000 bill and a mobile phone he used in making contact with the poseur.

A gold Ford Lynx with plate no. XPB-817 used by the suspect to transport the drugs was impounded by the PDEA.

All three suspects are now facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The day before, combined PD and PNP operatives arrested two top Chinese drug traffickers in the country during separate buy-bust operations in Q.C. and Cavite which led in the seizure of 300 kilograms of high-grade shabu worth nearly P1.8 billion.

Arrested during the 1st entrapment operation along Maria Clara Street in Bgy. Lourdes, Q.C. just beside the Orthopedic Hospital was Jia Cai Zhu alias ‘Anson Chua, a 41-year old Chinese national residing in Durian Street, Cuevasville Subdivision in Molino III, Bacoor City in Cavite.

A follow-up sting in Dasmariñas City in Cavite led in the arrest of a 2nd Chinese national identified as 41-year old Hai Lin and the confiscation of 260 kilos of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ valued at P1.496 billion.

It was the 1st major anti-narcotics operation in a day launched by the PDEA together with the PNP-DEG, the Q.C. Police District, the Armed Forces and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency since President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. took over as the 17th Philippine commander-in-chief last Thursday.

Members of the PDEA-NCR under Director Christian Frivaldo spearheaded the buy-bust operation in Q.C. with the support of officers from the PNP-DEG, the Task Force Noah and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, NICA and the QCPD Station 1 under Brig. Gen. Remus B. Medina.

Recovered during the Q.C. sting were 40 kilograms of shabu,’ the buy-bust money topped by a marked P1,000 bill, a mobile phone and a Toyota Corolla belonging to the accused.

An hour later, the same group of law enforcement agents arrested Hai Lin during a buy-bust operation at Block 19, Lt 13, Phase in Fullana Street corner Soriano St., Avida Residences in Santa Catalina along Molino-Paliparan Road in Dasmariñas City.

Recovered during the operation were 220 kilos of shabu worth P1.496 billion, five cellphones, the suspect’s driver’s license and vaccination card.

All arrested suspects are now facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon