IT is going to be the people power against illegal drugs.
Secretary Benhur Abalos, newly appointed head of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), said this today as he faced the members of the media over his plans for the first 100 days in office.
Abalos said the community and its barangay officials shall fight this social ill to the end until those involved in the illegal drug trade are convicted and incarcerated. They will be among the main actors to stop these illegal drug operations, he disclosed.
He said that the barangay officials must play an active role in the fight against illegal drugs or face sanctions for the proliferation of this menace. They should know and must be responsible, he added.
He vowed that this administration will serve the people and not the other way around. The Interior secretary said they will take the path of servant leadership.
“Hindi tayo ang pagsisilbihan, tayo ang magsisilbi sa kanilang lahat,” Abalos said.
Abalos said the direction the department is taking will be for naught if the community or people will not throw their full support to the police or the government.
“The former DILG secretary (Eduardo Ano) did well in the anti-illegal drugs campaign. Itutuloy lang natin ‘yun. But, we will put greater focus in building up strong cases against illegal drug suspects to ensure that no cases will be dismissed and they will be spending the rest of their lives behind bars,” Abalos said.
He revealed that most of the cases, investigations are deterred because no witnesses would appear before the police, prosecutor or the court. “Maski pulis hindi uma-attend the hearing o trial. “Pinare-review ko na yung mga kasong ganiyan para ma-solusyunan ang problema.
“We will involve other concerned agencies, and most importantly, the communities, to make sure that we have a comprehensive campaign against illegal drugs,” Abalos revealed.
Abalos said: “The war on drugs is just like a tree. Maski patubuin mo nang patubuin, putulin mo nang putulin yung sanga nito, may tutubong bagong sanga. Ano yung sanga? Yung sanga ay yung huli tayo ng huli pero may pumapalit nang pumapalit.”
He explained that this must be stopped with the cooperation of the local community. Abalos said that they will put much attention to the big fish of this social ill, not the small fry, to really make a true success in protecting our people from the use of the illegal drugs.
