President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the government is pursuing both primary and small-scale drug dealers while strictly upholding due process and carrying out the anti-drug campaign without resorting to killings.

In the maiden episode of the BBM Podcast on Monday, President Marcos assured the public of the government’s renewed focus on addressing the country’s illegal drug problem.

“So ngayon, in the same vein, part of the lesson of this election, let’s go back to ‘yung sa grassroots level. Kung inaalala ng tao, sinasabi, nagbabalikan (ang drugs) dito, sige, tuloy natin ‘yung malalaking drug bust,” President Marcos said during the podcast’s first episode.

“Tuloy natin… ikukulong natin ‘yung mga sangkot diyan sa drugs. Pero tingnan na muna natin ‘yung mas small offender,” the President said.

President Marcos said the renewed anti-narcotics efforts is part of the campaign, in which policemen conduct daily street patrols.

He noted that while anti-drug agencies focus on small drug dealers, due process is observed.

“Kasi talaga, iniwasan ko, ‘yung basta may suspect siya o may hinala o may sumbong, basta kung huli, papatayin na lang, di ba? Ah, wala. ‘Yun, doon kami lumayo,” the President pointed out.

The President also acknowledged the difficulty of neutralizing drug syndicates in the country, considering the large amount of grease money involved.

“Ang sindikato kasama na diyan ‘yung police, kasama na diyan ‘yung local government. Laking pera eh,” he pointed out.

“Ang dami nilang pera. Kaya kahit sa ‘yung mga judge, kaya nilang bilhin lahat. Para sa prosecutor, kaya nilang bilhin lahat. Walang panama ‘yung sweldo nila sa gobyerno dun sa binibigay ng mga sindikato. Kaya ‘yun ang binubuwag namin.” | PND