Two prominent politicians on Saturday took on the drug menace and called for intensified campaign against drug syndicates to prevent the spread of prohibited drugs.
Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed his disappointment with the government’s campaign against drug syndicates although the identities of big-time drug dealers have been unmasked.
For his part, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada promised to wage an all-out campaign against the banned drugs.
“We all know who they are—these drug lords. The PDEA [Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency], they may not say it in public, but if you sit down with the officers they will give you a list of who they [drug lords] are,” Marcos said during a meeting with officers and members of Rotary Club of Pasay. “Why are we not arresting them, putting them in jail and throwing the keys away?” he said.
“The PDEA 2014 annual report shows that out of the total of 13,792 drug personalities arrested that year two were manufacturers of illegal drugs, and another two were financiers of the illegal drug trade.”
The senator said lawmen should continue to pursue their normal anti-drug campaign against pushers and drug dens and increase their efforts in neutralizing big-time drug lords and drug syndicates operating in the country.
To bolster the government’s anti-drug campaign, Marcos proposed additional support for lawmen in terms of funding, facilities, equipment and better training.
Estrada expressed alarm over the spread of prohibited drugs in 92 percent of villages in Metro Manila.
“I am prioritizing the construction and rehabilitation of sports centers so that Manila’s youth will not experiment with illegal drugs. I am appealing to you stay out of drugs for those will bring will you no good,” said Estrada telling thousands of young skaters during the opening of the country’s very first free skate plaza in Paco.
Estrada cited a study by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency that 92 percent of barangays in the National Capital Region have recorded cases of involvement of youth in the use of illegal drugs, an issue that he is seriously worried about as a parent and as the father of the city.
Estrada and son Jake Ejercito led the grand opening of the country’s very first free skate plaza which offers a safe public venue for skating and BMX enthusiasts and alternative sports-loving youth.
The 1,700-square meter plaza, located in Paco, Manila, is funded by the city government and open to anyone who would want to use the facility free of charge. It is equipped with customary skating obstacles like a 6-ft bowl, China Gap, FunBox, Quarter Pipes, stairset, ledges, Snake Run, Wall Ride, Pyramid, banks and handrails, where aficionados can practice their skate and bike tricks, and also has a covered court and stage where shows could be held.
The project came in cooperation with One Manila Org, a non-governmental organization composed of around 2,000 members.
Metro Manila police director Joel Pagdilao earlier announced that his men arrested 97 in four months of police operations as part of a crackdown on drug dealing in the National Capital Region.