IF elected president, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso said on Thursday he intends to appoint as secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) a flag officer from the Navy who has the expertise in guarding the country’s borders and preventing the entry of illegal drugs.

“Kaya alam mo for the first time in history, mag-appoint ako from the Navy as secretary of national defense. Why? Because we are an archipelagic country,” Moreno said during the Presidential One-on-One Interviews with entertainment host Boy Abunda.

The 47-year-old presidential aspirant pointed out that since President Rodrigo Duterte came into power in 2016, his war on drugs made it harder for those operating shabu laboratories to continue manufacturing illegal drugs sold in the streets.

Moreno, however, said that despite the relentless effort of the Duterte government to eradicate the drug problem in the country, the illegal drug trade continues to flourish as supply enters through our borders by the bulk.

“So, there must be something wrong with our borders. There must be something wrong with our ports kasi kung wala na ‘yung manufacturing, hirap na magbenta, bakit kung dumating at mahuli namin, 48 kilos, 40 kilos, 5 kilos? So, I think it’s high time for us to address our boundaries, our entries – the port or entries. Then, pag wala nang nagpaplanta, wala nang nagpapasok, naturally walang available na drugs,” Moreno, who realized the need to appoint a Navy Officer sa DND secretary, said.

Asked by Abunda if he considers the Philippines a “narco state,” the Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer said that despite the challenges being faced by the government in fighting illegal drugs, the Philippines cannot be considered a narco-state similar to known narco-countries Mexico and Colombia.

“Unang-una hindi ako naniniwala na narco country tayo, unlike ‘yung Colombian era in the 70’s and ‘80s. We have not reached that far. It can destroy a country,” Moreno told Abunda.

Narco-state is a political and economic term applied to countries where all legitimate institutions have been penetrated by the power and wealth of the illegal drug trade. The term was first used to describe Bolivia following the 1980 coup of Luis Garcia Meza which was primarily financed by narcotics traffickers.

Other well-known examples of narco-states are Mexico and Colombia, where drug cartels produce, ship, and sell drugs such as cocaine.

On the question of whether he will continue President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, Moreno said he is open to that but it will not be bloody and he will have a different approach similar to what he did in Manila.

Moreno had said in earlier interviews that there will be no EJKs (extrajudicial killings) in his version of the war on drugs.

“No (it will not be bloody). Well, sorry to say this. Things happen. Officially, within the rules… kasi engkwentro eh. Napatayan nga ako ng pulis eh. There are incidents, pero eto maganda Tito Boy, I can honestly say to you, 97% nahuli namin buhay in Manila. May prototype na dahil I grew up in the streets, I grew up with criminals, I grew up with that kind of environment, ako pa mismo ang nagtuturo sa lespu (pulis) minsan kung pano sasakotihin (arrest),” Moreno said.

During the interview, Moreno once again reiterated that he never tried taking any kind of drugs especially during his youth as he was aware of the negative effects on one’s body.

Moreno also said despite pressure from some of his friends to try it, he didn’t succumb to them “Never. Not solvent, not shabu, not damo, sudoplex, pidol, corex tapos cocaine. Ayoko kasi masisira ulo mo eh,” he said.

“Eh nakikita ko sa mga kababata ko eh. Kaya nga ako nag-basura, kaya nga ako nag-sidecar boy, kaya ako naghanapbuhay kasi gusto ko chicha, hindi adik. Nakita ko ‘yun araw-araw eh. Dadaan ka sa eskinita, kaya ka ngang tusukin ng bolo sa sikip ng eskinita. Maaamoy mo damo. Tapos it turned out makikita mo ‘yung mga taong ito, kung di namatay, nasa mental hospital. So nakita mo na, kaya ayokong gawin. Not a single drop or taste or even curiosity,” Moreno said.