Aguirre: Relentless war on drugs to continue

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has vowed relentless efforts to convict drug syndicates as he lauded the successful conviction of persons behind the P2-billion Subic drug case.

Police authorities in Subic arrested Albert Chin and Romeo Manalo on August 11, 2013 from a house in Subic, Zambales where 432 kilograms of shabu (methamphetamine) were seized. The illegal drugs were found in 22 large gym bags and balikbayan boxes. Police authorities took 18 hours to finish hauling the shabu from the house to the police station.

Aguirre hailed the conviction of Chin and Manalo to life imprisonment with a fine of P1 million “as one of the biggest drug busts in the history of the Philippines.”

READ: 6 get life in Subic drug bust

“This is a major victory in the President’s War on Drugs. It sends a chilling effect to all involved in the drug trade in the country,” said Aguirre in a statement over the weekend.

He said the swift prosecution of drug syndicates should serve as a warning to those behind the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country.

“We have sent a very strong warning and message to all who are involved. Deal with drugs and you will find neither refuge nor respite from the law. We will be relentless in pursuing you. We will be relentless in prosecuting you!” Aguirre added.

He said the effective action of national police, prosecutors and judges to put drug syndicates behind bars are “very instrumental in restoring the people’s trust and confidence and their active participation in apprehending people behind drugs syndicates.”

READ: Bilibid source of 75% of drug deals in PH—Aguirre

“I congratulate all our prosecutors who are involved in the successful prosecution of this case. Their valiant efforts validated the acts of our apprehending officers from the Philippine National Police (PNP) who apprehended the accused,” said Aguirre in a statement.

The Duterte administration has been criticized heavily by the international community and rights groups for the rampant extrajudicial killings of drug suspects, reaching more than 1,000 since July.