Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Wednesday that checkpoints should be intensified to prevent marijuana proliferation in the country.
“Kailangan nating paigtingin ‘yung mga checkpoints na ‘yan kasi magaling din itong mga grupo na ‘to. Hinahalo nila sa mga products, finished products, tinatago nila sa secret compartment ng sasakyan,” Año said in an interview on Unang Balita.
The DILG chief said the Philippine National Police (PNP) would work with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in preventing the proliferation of marijuana. Police said marijuana is becoming an alternative for shabu.
“Ang gagawin natin dito, paiigtingin ‘yung kampanya dito at hindi lang dito sa Metro Manila. Susuyurin din natin ‘yung mga kabundukan, with a joint operation din sa AFP, kung ano pa ‘yung mga plantations na maaari pang existing,” he said.
PNP Chief General Debold Sinas admitted that marijuana and shabu’s demand has increased during the quarantine, so they are doubling their campaign to curb illegal drug activities.
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Intensify checkpoints to prevent marijuana proliferation – Año
According to Sinas, due to quarantine implementation, the number of activities or going to bars where drug users mainly use ecstasy has been reduced.
Due to the lack of bars, drug addicts now use marijuana and shabu more. This is now the authorities’ focus under President Duterte’s order to curb the drug problem.
Sinas said the increase in the demand for marijuana and shabu has caused them to intensify their campaign against the big-time drug pushers in the country.
One of these was the seizure of P26-million marijuana in Balintawak, Quezon City.
The vegetables and garlic sold from Isabela are said to be the front of the three suspects identified as Dianne Irene Cambalicer, Louie Mark Cuerdo, and Angelo Pascual.
However, Sinas said that although they passed the checkpoint, they did not dig up the cargo and instead only looked at the driver and passenger papers.
But according to an official at Camp Crame, it is surprising that illegal cargo has passed through many checkpoints from Isabela, especially if it is under surveillance.