No proof yet on right groups’ ties with drug syndicates

There is no evidence yet to back the claims of presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano that drug syndicates could have been using human rights group as “unwitting tools” to weaken the government’s efforts in eradicating narcotics in the country, law enforcement agencies said.

“We have none right now,” Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Chief Supt. John Bulalacao said in a press briefing at Malacañang.

“But as what has been mentioned by [the PDEA], we would continue to validate these reports that drug syndicates may be using human rights groups to discredit the efforts of the government,” he added.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) spokesperson Derrick Carreon said the allegation of the two government officials is a recent finding that must undergo investigation since by the “trend of how human rights group attack the anti-drug campaign, it  can only be surmised that they might be unwittingly capitalized on or made as leverage by drug lords.”

 “This is a recent finding. So we will coordinate with our counterparts from PNP National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and all other agencies including intelligence agencies if needed,” he said.

Carreon added that they still have to dig further, adding that the enemies could have been riding on the issue because “any damage or attack against the campaign is advantageous to the other side.”

(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 03/ 28 /18)