Duterte hands-off anti-illegal drug campaign

Although unsure if it was right to transfer the headship of the government’s campaign against illegal drugs in the country to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he is leaving all the control up to PDEA.

“Do not give me reports. Let the PDEA do its job. I don’t know if it is really the right path, but that’s what I thought of. Leave it that way,” the President said at the wake of the late Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal.

He added that in order to spare himself from issues, he decided to leave all drug related matters to PDEA.

“Drugs, on the other hand, I already gave up everything to avoid issues. I already told the Bureau of Customs, police, Armed Forces to get out. Including myself,” he said.

However, the President said that the Philippine National Police will keep its visibility “at all times” as a “deterrent to illegal drug activities.”

DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 10/ 24/17