The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Gen Rodolfo Azurin Jr., wants to give proper punishment to the vessels found to be involved in bringing illegal drugs into the country because most narcotics enter the Philippines by sea.
“We need to identify ano yung mga ginagamit na mode na pag-transport so that ipatanggal natin yung kanilang license na makapasok sa bansa natin or kumpiskahin natin sila kasi hindi naman yung lalangoy na darating na lang yung droga sa atin. Sabi ko nga definitely by air and by sea and obviously ang titingnan natin dito karamihan ng pumapasok na kontrabando dito sa atin is galing sa dagat dahil very weak ang ating border control and security,” said Azurin.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Azurin as the new PNP chief.
He said the PNP would also coordinate with other government agencies to reduce, if not completely eliminate, the instances where the country serves as a market or transshipment point for illegal drugs.
Azurin promised to strengthen cooperation with the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Customs, and other government agencies to help advance the war on drugs.
PNP, Navy to tighten maritime security
Meanwhile, he promised to continue the government’s fight against illegal drugs wicommunity’s supportmmunity.
“Ang approach is we continue yung ating programa but this time pag-aralan natin na katuwang natin ang bawat komunidad sa barangay. I always believe that the barangay leaders, kilala nila kung sino yung mga constituents nila so kailangan we communicate with them and then, if there is a need for those affected by drugs in the community to undergo rehabilitation, we will do it. Pagkatapos ng lahat, mayroon kaming mga pasilidad sa rehabilitasyon ng droga na magagamit,” said Azurin.
He also instructed the concerned police units to have a more sustainable concept of operations, especially in the war against drugs, local communist terrorists, terrorism, human trafficking, kidnapping for ransom, and other crimes committed by organized crime groups.
Marcos Jr. earlier said that drug abuse prevention and education and the improvement of rehabilitation centers would be the focus of his administration’s anti-drug campaign, as well as ensuring that high-value drug personalities are convicted.
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