Abalos: Relentless anti-drug drive in accordance with Constitution to go on

FILE PHOTO: DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. delivers his opening statement during the press conference at Camp Crame, Quezon City on Wednesday, January 04, 2023, regarding illegal drugs, involvement of police officials, and his call for courtesy resignation from full colonel to generals. – Abalos said the administration will continue a relentless campaign against illegal drugs but in accordance with the Constitution. INQUIRER / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

PALO, Leyte — Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Wednesday reiterated the administration’s vow for a relentless campaign against illegal drugs but in accordance with the Constitution.

“We don’t have a problem in continuing the campaign against illegal drugs under the Marcos administration. We will implement the campaign in accordance with the oath (and) on the basis of the Constitution,” Abalos said in a brief interview during the regional roll out of the government’s anti-drug campaign dubbed as “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” held at the convention center in Palo.

He also stressed that the rights of suspects or those arrested will be respected.

Abalos was asked if the illegal drugs campaign of the Marcos administration will be affected by the continued probe of the United Nations rapporteur on the illegal drugs campaign of the previous administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: ICC resumes full-blown probe of Duterte drug war

Human rights advocates slammed the anti-illegal drug campaign of the Duterte administration, claiming it resulted in the deaths of more than 27,000 people–a number contested by the Philippine National Police which claimed that only 6,000 people were killed in the course of the campaign.

Abalos said he was happy that officials in the region supported the government’s anti-drug campaign, stressing that it needs a “whole-of-nation approach,” and not just a police matter.

Governors Carlos Jericho Petilla of Leyte; Damian Mercado of Southern Leyte; Sharee Ann Tan of Samar; and Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, and Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez vowed to support the campaign against the illegal drug trade.

READ: Marcos Jr. says weeding out ninja cops part of new drug war approach

All the regional leaders said that they have programs and activities that aim to eradicate the problem, giving focus on youths.

For one, Samar Gov. Tan said she launched the “Sirak Kabataan” program wherein several activities like sports events are conducted to keep the youths away from illegal drugs.

Eastern Samar Gov. Evardone, for his part, said he provides cash incentives to barangays which are drug-cleared while Southern Leyte Gov. Mercado said he does not play favorites, even some of his own relatives were arrested for using and possession of illegal drugs.