Marcos admin’s anti-drug drive to focus on dismantling syndicates

“We have taken enforcement as far as we can. Now, it is time to look at actually going after dismantling these syndicates,” Marcos said. (PCO Photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said his administration’s campaign against illegal drugs would now focus more on dismantling drug syndicates and strengthening re-education programs.

During a question-and-answer session at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC on Thursday (Friday in Manila), Marcos said the drug problem continues to be the source of “much criminality in the Philippines,” emphasizing that there would be no letup in the anti-drug campaign despite taking on a different approach from the previous administration.

“We have taken enforcement as far as we can. Now, it is time to look at actually going after dismantling these syndicates,” Marcos said.

“Further back to that process is also… the process of re-education, of explaining, especially to our young people what the damage – what the potential damage is to their lives should they be involved in this way, not only as users, not only as addicts but also as dealers and operators of these syndicates.”

The President said he has organized a commission aimed at cleansing the ranks of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and sought the resignation of all police officers suspected of involvement in the illegal drug trade.

“We are now in the process of looking through the records of these officers to see those (who) have had derogatory comments, those that have evidence against them,” he said.

A five-member advisory group has finished screening the courtesy resignations of more than 950 police generals and colonels as part of the PNP’s cleansing process.

On Wednesday, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the results of the screening would be announced soon.