FILE PHOTO: Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — As part of his first 100 days in office, Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. on Monday said he would make “surprise visits” to certain jails to ensure they are free from illegal drugs.
Aside from easing congestion in jails, Abalos said that getting rid of illegal drugs is the most important objective under his watch.
“It is important to ease congestion as much as possible. Napaka-importante rito at napaka-importante sa lahat, sa lahat, walang droga sa kulungan. Nakakulong na kung minsan, may droga pa diyan. They better watch out,” Abalos said in a press briefing.
(It is important to ease congestion as much as possible. The most important thing here and most important of all is that there should be no drugs in jails. Some are already in jail but they still have drugs. They better watch out.)
“Mag-i-inspection ako ng lahat ng kulungan dito. Hindi ko lahat iinspeksyunin, pero yung iilan dito I would have a surprise visit, at kung makita ko, papa-drug test ko ‘yung mga nakakulong dito at merong positive sa drugs, pag nakapag-drugs ‘yan, nakakulong ‘yan,” he further said.
(I will inspect every jail. I won’t inspect them all, but for some of them, I would have a surprise visit, and when I see them, I will make those who are jailed here undergo a drug test, and those who are drug positive, if he took drugs, he is already jailed.)
About former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, Abalos said he would make it “as intensive as before.”
“And let me make this statement: the war against drugs will be as intensive as before on the basis of my oath as a public official in accordance with the Constitution. ‘Yan po ang gagawin natin dito (That’s what we will do here),” he said.
However, when asked if his war on drugs would be as “bloody” as Duterte’s, Abalos clarified that it would be pursued “in accordance with the oath that I have taken based on the provisions of the Constitution.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently relayed to Swedish Ambassador Annika Thunborg during a courtesy meeting that he would continue Duterte’s war on drugs “within the framework of the law and with respect for human rights.”
Boosting fire protection
Noting that the country lacks 205 fire stations, Abalos assured the public that the facility’s construction would be hastened.
“Pinapatignan ko if there will be enough funds, I will try our best na matulungan po ito as this is our priority,” he said.
(I am asking them if there will be enough funds, I will try our best to secure this as this is our priority.)
Safe cities
Also, the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s programs make cities safe through interconnecting closed-circuit television (CCTVs) across the country.
“We have CCTVs all over the country. If only we could interconnect all of these interconnected, all that we need is an app, isang (an) application software lang na kung saan mas mabilis ito, mas gaganda sana ito (wherein it will be efficient, it will be great). – with reports from Xander Dave Ceballos, INQUIRER.net intern