Palace reiterates war on drugs to be done ‘under the law’

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Luzon Island Cluster Conference at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City on October 22, 2018, reiterates his stern warning to the public officials to avoid getting involved in any illegal activities. RENE LUMAWAG/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday reiterated its stance that the government’s war against illegal drugs will be done in accordance with existing laws.

“The President says “I declare war against drugs,” which means that the law enforcement agencies will have to do everything under the law to run after them,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a briefing.

Panelo said President Rodrigo R. Duterte does not and will not allow abuses to happen in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, citing the conviction of policemen involved in abuses during anti-drug operations.

“It only means that there will be more buy bust operations, more arrests and more intelligence work in order to dismantle completely the drug apparatus in this country,” he said.

Panelo also said the government’s intelligence fund is put into good use.

“Hindi nga ba ang daming nare-raid na mga factories ng shabu (Isn’t it that there are many raids in shabu factories?). Ang kagalingan naman ng mga kalaban, eh pag nabuwag sila, meron na namang susulpot (Enemies are good at it. When dismantled, a new one will rise). Eh kasi nga malaking pera eh, pag malaking pera (Huge money is involved here and as such,) people risk their lives,” he said.

Panelo said priests should not worry about the anti-drugs campaign of the government unless they are part of the illegal drug trading.

Combatting illegal drugs is one of the major campaign promises of President Duterte when he ran for office in 2016.