Isko Moreno says appointment of Navy Flag Officer as defense chief to bolster war on drugs

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso (INQUIRER file photo)  

MANILA, Philippines – If elected president, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso said he will appoint a Philippine Navy flag officer with a background in guarding the country’s borders and preventing the entry of illegal drugs as secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND).

“Kaya alam mo for the first time in history, mag-appoint ako from the Navy as secretary of national defense. Why? Because we are an archipelagic country,” Moreno said during the Presidential One-on-One Interviews with entertainment host Boy Abunda.

The 47-year-old presidential candidate pointed out that since President Rodrigo Duterte was elected in 2016, his war on drugs made it harder for those operating shabu laboratories to continue manufacturing illegal drugs.

Porous borders

Moreno, however, said that despite the relentless effort of the Duterte administration to eradicate the drug problem in the country, the illegal drug trade continues to flourish with the entry of the contraband by bulk through the country’s borders.

“In fairness kay Pangulong Duterte, talagang halos hirap na hirap kung hindi nawala, halos mawala ‘yung droga sa kalsada. Second thing that I have to give to President Duterte, nawala ‘yung manufacturing sa Pilipinas. Dati meron nahuhuli sa posh subdivision. Nawala nga ang manufacturing, the thing I found out, bulk na ang dumarating dito,” Moreno said.

“So, there must be something wrong with our borders. There must be something wrong with our ports kasi kung wala na ‘yung manufacturing, hirap na magbenta, bakit kung dumating at mahuli namin, 48 kilos, 40 kilos, 5 kilos? So, I think it’s high time for us to address our boundaries, our entries – the port or entries. Then, pag wala nang nagpaplanta, wala nang nagpapasok, naturally walang available na drugs,” Moreno said.

Asked by Abunda if he considers the Philippines a “narco state,” the Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer said the despite the challenges being faced by government in fighting illegal drugs, the Philippines cannot be considered a narco-state.

“Unang-una hindi ako naniniwala na narco country tayo, unlike ‘yung Colombian era in the 70’s and ‘80s. We have not reached that far. It can destroy a country,” Moreno told Abunda.

Narco-state is a political and economic term applied to countries where all legitimate institutions have been penetrated by the power and wealth of the illegal drug trade.

The term was first used to describe Bolivia following the 1980 coup of Luis Garcia Meza which was primarily financed by narcotics traffickers.

Different anti-drug approach

On the question whether he will continue President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, Moreno said he is open to that but it will not be bloody and he will have a different approach similar to what he did in Manila.

“Why not? Basta papanagutin kita sa mata ng batas, hindi sa batas ng sinuman. Sa mata ng batas, which we are doing. We are going to do so, if given a chance. No ifs, no buts,” he stressed.

Moreno had said in earlier interviews that there will be no EJKs (extrajudicial killings) in his version of the war on drugs.

“No (it will not be bloody). Well, sorry to say this. Things happen. Officially, within the rules… kasi engkwentro eh. Napatayan nga ako ng pulis eh. There are incidents, pero eto maganda Tito Boy, I can honestly say to you, 97% nahuli namin buhay in Manila. May prototype na dahil I grew up in the streets, I grew up with criminals, I grew up with that kind of environment, ako pa mismo ang nagtuturo sa lespu (pulis) minsan kung pano sasakotihin (arrest),” Moreno said.

“Nung mag-mayor ako, meron lang akong isang rule na, you know, the way I grew up in the street. Ako hanggang maaari eh talagang dini-diplomasya ko. Na basta ako zero tolerance, non-negotiable, drugs are drugs. If you commit it, selling, we’ll apprehend you. Kakalawitin ka namin. Kukunin ka namin. Kaya ang drugs sa Maynila nag-subside. Hirap na hirap silang mag-deal,” Moreno explained.

No illegal drugs history

During the interview, Moreno once again reiterated that he never tried taking any kind of drugs especially during his youth as he was aware of the negative effects to one’s body.

Moreno also said despite pressure from some of his friends to try it, he didn’t give in.

“Eh nakikita ko sa mga kababata ko eh. Kaya nga ako nag-basura, kaya nga ako nag-sidecar boy, kaya ako nag hanap-buhay kasi gusto ko chicha, hindi adik. Nakita ko ‘yun araw-araw eh. Dadaan ka sa eskinita, kaya ka ngang tusukin ng bolo sa sikip ng eskinita. Maaamoy mo damo. Tapos it turned out makikita mo ‘yung mga taong ito, kung di namatay, nasa mental hospital. So nakita mo na, kaya ayokong gawin. Not a single drop or taste or even curiosity,” Moreno said.

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