Malacañang: Gov’t to intensify fight vs illegal drugs

President Benigno Aquino III has ordered the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and other concerned agencies to step up its campaign against drug trafficking in the country, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Citing the National Drug Program of Action 2015 to 2020, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said Aquino had directed PDEA to anchor its efforts on five pillars of action, namely drug supply reduction, drug demand reduction, alternative development, civic awareness and response and regional and international cooperation.

“In a meeting held at Malacañang Palace, the President said all concerned government agencies should concentrate on preventing the spread of illegal drugs at its source while stopping smuggling and manufacturing activities,” Coloma said in a statement.

“President Aquino said law enforcement agencies should prioritize their actions based on the level of threat to the community in order to protect the welfare of the country especially our youth,” he added.

In line with the President’s directive, Coloma says P393 million is being spent this year and P400 million will be disbursed in 2016 for the Department of Health’s repair and improvement of drug treatment and rehabilitation centers in the country.

Coloma added that PDEA would hire more agents as it aimed to double its clearing operations at the barangay level.

“PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac reported that from 2010 to 2014, a total of 13,792 individuals have been arrested. Last year, PDEA apprehended over 1,000 high-value targets and charged more than 2,000 drug personalities in various areas in the country,” Coloma added.