DOJ chief gets award for accomplishments in anti-drug war

MANILA—The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) on Monday awarded Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has made great feats in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs particularly the successful PHP6-billion drug haul last December 2016.

The successive raids on houses in Mangga Street in Barangay Little Baguio and in Bonifacio Street, both in San Juan City, yielded some PHP3.6 billion worth of shabu. The raids were part of a four-month series of operations by the NBI that yielded a total of 890 kilos of shabu with a street value of almost PHP6 billion.

Aguirre said that this is the largest drug raid in the history of the fight against illegal drugs in the country.

”It is with a mixture of elation and pride that I accept this citation on behalf of the honorable men and women of the NBI and the DOJ who were instrumental in making possible the largest single drug haul in Philippine history,” Aguirre said during the VACC citation held in NBI in Manila.

”This citation represents the fruition of the collaborative effort of everyone. It symbolizes what is possible and what can be achieved if everyone works toward a common goal. I wish to commend the NBI under the dynamic and uncompromising leadership of Director Dante Gierran in making all these possible,” he added.

“Let us prove to all that under the Duterte Presidency, Crime will never pay. No refuge, no respite and no let up in our war against criminals. This award is not the end, rather it is just the beginning. We have made a big inroad in this war, let us be united in ending it in our favor. For the sake of our families, our love ones and of the future generations, let us all be relentless,” the DoJ Chief stressed.

He also expressed gratitude to the VACC for the citation.

”Let this be a jumping off point for greater achievements. Let this be a motivation for everyone to scale greater heights until we win this war,” he noted.