Enrile calls for better intelligence gathering on illegal drugs

Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) senatorial candidate Juan Ponce Enrile gestures to supporters during his recent motorcade through several cities in Cavite. (Contributed photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) senatorial candidate, has called on police and military authorities to improve intelligence gathering amid the entry of more illegal drugs in the country.

Enrile, defense minister during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, made the statement on the sidelines of his recent campaign tour of Cavite

He pointed out that a porous border would need a more agile military and police.

“We need more equipment, patrol boats, helicopters, and stronger intelligence to arrest big-time drug lords,” Enrile said. “In this so-called war on drugs, we must be willing to put the money where our mouth is to enforce the law.”

So he vowed that, if elected back to the Senate, he would push for a higher budget for the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines so they could buy more patrol boats and modern intelligence gathering equipment.

Recently, President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that the drug menace had worsened and that more and more drugs were coming in.

Enrile noted that big shabu shipments amounting to billions of pesos have recently been seized by the police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The former Senate President commended the authorities for that, but he called for a speedier probe into the incidents.

“Nasaan yung mga taong nasa likod nito?” he said.

[Where are the people behind this?]

“It is not enough that we seize the contraband. People behind these should be held accountable, brought to court, and convicted,” he added.

However, Enrile warned that the evidence must be “studied carefully” so that the correct perpetrators could be caught.

Enrile recently led a motorcade of supporters passing through the cities of Cavite, Imus, Trece Martires, Indang, and Tagaytay in the province.

He also paid courtesy visits Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado Revilla, Imus City Mayor Emmanuel Maliksi, and Cavite Gov. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla. /atm