COTABATO CITY—The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have joined forces against the illegal drug trade in MILF-managed communities in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
An agreement directing the the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to enforce anti-illegal drug programs in the MILF-controlled areas was signed by officials of the Ad Hoc Joint Section Group of the Philippine government and the MILF at Hotel Elena in Davao City with GPH chairman Brig. Gen. Arnel de la Vega, GPH joint coordinating committee on cessation of hostilities chief Brig. Gen. Glen Macasero, MILF Al Haj Abdul Dataya, and MILF CCH chairman Butch Malang.
The MILF earlier expressed alarm over the prevalence of drug-related incidents in its jurisdiction, especially in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Marawi City and other big localities.
The agreement provides mechanisms to combat drug-related criminality in MILF communities, including information dissemination in barangay, municipal and city anti-drug abuse councils.
The MILF pledged to submit lists of drug personalities in identified areas subject to validation by the law-enforcement agencies.
The agreement is part of the national drive against drug-related criminality initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration and vigorously enforced by National Police Director Gen. Renato de la Rosa.
Latest reports revealed close to 1,000 drug offenders have been slain in the country’ drive against banned substances even as many local government officials and police officers have been linked to the illegal drug trade.