The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is planning to launch its “Revitalized Police Program” nationwide following the success of its pilot testing in a Muntinlupa community where illegal drug cases and other crimes are rampant.
In a press conference in Quezon City on Saturday, DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. said they are reviving a more comprehensive “Revitalized Police Program” as part of the Marcos administration’s efforts to address criminality including the use and distribution of illegal drugs.
“May isang lugar sa Muntinlupa ‘no, pinahanap sa amin iyong, alam mo na, sabi ko nga may konting problema sa drugs at criminality so iyong pulis, mga sampu sila, doon sila umupa ng bahay, doon sila natulog, kumain, bumarkada, lahat ng mga tao roon bawat kanto lahat, nakipagkaibigan,” Abalos said.
“Ang problema is birth certificate and after a few months I tell you this, dramatically bumaba ang krimen, nawala ang halos sa mga pusher sa lugar na iyon. Tao-tao ang ginawa po rito, and this is what we are trying to do in the whole of the country right now, the Revitalized Police Program,” he added.
Abalos said the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have also intensified their supply and demand reduction efforts against illegal drugs through the “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) program.”
Abalos said the BIDA program aims to kill the root cause of the illegal drug problems through the help of the community, the family, the church and other stakeholders, especially the youth who are the most vulnerable sector of the society.
“Of course, iyong healthy lifestyle binibigay namin iyan marami at ang kasama rito barangay at SK, the youth sectors, public officials and law enforcers,” he added.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) recorded almost PhP32 billion worth of seized drugs from July 1, 2022 to April 21, 2024 through a more intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. | PND
