The government must throw its full weight in its anti-illegal narcotics campaign to counter drug syndicates bringing in huge volume of drugs in the country, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has said.
In his televised Talk to the People on COVID-19 aired on Saturday, President Duterte expressed fear of what might happen to the nation if the trade of illegal drugs will continue unabated.
“Hindi ako nagbibiro kung sinasabi ko na natatakot ako sa anong mangyari ng bayan ko pagka hindi maghinto talaga itong pasok ng droga,” he said during his address.
“It would require more than just double of what we are doing now to [cope with] the widespread importation or the presence of whatever baka dito rin the drugs in the country,” he added.
The President’s statement came following successive drug busts that netted millions worth of illegal narcotics.
Reporting on the recent drug operations in Imus, Cavite last September 9, the President said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), together with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), confiscated approximately 48 kilos of shabu worth P331.2 million.
The operation also led to the arrest of Lani Micoleta Brabante, 45 years old, and Aldwin Micoleta Mijela, 47, both from Imus, Cavite.
A second buy-bust operation in Bacoor, Cavite, by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), PDEA and BOC neutralized Basher Bangon Pangcoga of Cagayan de Oro City, and Danilo Untavar Tampogaw of Dasmariñas, Cavite.
Pangcoga is a top-level drug personality whose main markets are Visayas and Mindanao. He is believed to have direct contact with the Chinese drug syndicate.
Authorities recovered a kilo of suspected shabu worth P600,000, which was the subject of the operation and 180 kilos of the illegal contraband valued at P1.2 billion.
President Duterte renewed his commitment to continue eradicating illegal drugs in the country, reiterating to punish those who are involved in the illegal drug trade.
“But I would like to reassure again those who are into it that do not destroy my country because I will kill you. It’s no joke coming from me since I was mayor. Hindi talaga ako papayag kailanman.” PND
