Revive drug war, Laguna village execs ask Duterte

SAN PEDRO CITY—Village chiefs in Laguna province have asked President Duterte to revive the government’s antidrug campaign amid reports that syndicates have resumed their illegal activities.

At the launch of Masa Masid (Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga) in Laguna on Wednesday, Lorenzo Zuñiga Jr., president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in the province, said village officials feared for their safety now that the Philippine National Police had stepped back on its war on drugs.

The league’s resolution, which will be submitted to PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa this week, asks the President to “reconsider” his decision.

“Our contention is that in any organization, even in our ranks, there really are bad ones,” Zuñiga said in a telephone interview on Thursday. “But if we are to lose hope just because of these few rotten ones, where will this bring us?”

Zuñiga said Laguna saw a significant decline in its drug problem during the mass arrests of suspected pushers in the past six months.

“(Drug syndicates) seem to have regained confidence. We have several reports (of drug suspects) texting, more like taunting and challenging, the police to arrest them now,” Zuñiga said.

He said they feared for the lives of village officials who helped the police identify drug users and pushers in their communities.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency does not have enough men as the PNP does, as only 10 agents are assigned to cover 674 villages in Laguna, according to Zuñiga. —MARICAR CINCO