Abalos leads anti-drug dialogue
LOCAL Government Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. on Monday led a multi-sectoral dialogue in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City to discuss new government plans and programs to better address the drug problem.
In his message to the participants, the DILG chief discussed the root-based approach of the Marcos government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign and the significant roles of all agencies involved in the program.
He also highlighted two important developments in the campaign: first, the aftercare of drug offenders once they are released from prison, and enrolled in the livelihood programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
“This would address the 1/3 of the total number of prisoners that becomes repeat offenders,” he said.
Second, is the implementation of the Philippine National Police’s Revitalized-Pulis sa Barangay program which has been proven to be effective in community-based policing, strengthening barangay-based institutions and capacitating local special organizations.
Various concerns were raised during the meeting such as the reduction of bail for indigent offenders that may be prone to abuse; abuse in the use of plea bargaining by drug offenders; capacitation of Civil Security Organizations to help in the drug clearing efforts; the process of delisting of personalities in the Drugs Watchlist that impedes the drug clearing in the Barangay; the presence of insulating witnesses in seizure of illegal drug contrabands incidental to a valid arrest; and failure to comply with the conditions of the plea bargaining agreement.
As a result, the DILG chief instructed the National Capital Region Police Office headed by Major General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. to identify barangays in Metro Manila that would be included in the list of Drug Affected Barangays for R-PSB deployment.
He also encouraged everyone to once again approach the drug problem in the lens of a whole of government approach.
During the meeting, PNP Director for Police-Community Relations, Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan O. Okubo presented the concept of the Revitalized-Pulis sa Barangay and its accomplishments in various barangays in NCRPO particularly in Bgy. Putatan in Muntinlupa City where there was a noted 67 percent reduction in crime incidence or from 37 to 12 incidence before and during the R-PSB deployment.
Other officials who attended the meeting were San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, DSWD Undersecretary Monina Josefina Romualdez, Taguig City Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Anthony James Villamor and Liga ng mga Barangay president Darwin Fernandez.
