The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered all police chiefs to coordinate with their respective mayors to bolster the campaign against illicit drugs, including ensuring a watertight case against those caught in police operations.
This, as Department of Home Affairs and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos noted that there were drug cases that were dismissed on technical grounds, particularly on drug inventory illegal seizures.
Police Major General Valeriano De Leon, the PNP’s director of operations, said the hard work and sacrifices of the police would be wasted if the cases they filed were only dismissed.
“We need LGU’s help to strengthen our campaign against illicit drugs.” “If it is effective in Mandaluyong, then it would be effective in other parts of the country,” De Leon said.
De Leon said he wants to replicate the example cited by Abalos in which they hired staff at the town of Mandaluyong whose job it is to join anti-illegal drug raids and testify in court.
In his speech, Abalos said drug cases are often dismissed due to procedural failings that include full witnesses in conducting the inventory of illegal drugs. By law, the inventory must be witnessed by barangay officials, media representatives and the Ministry of Justice.
“There is no need to reinvent the cogs. We just want to look for ways to make things efficient,” said Abalos, a lawyer, citing what they have done in the city of Mandaluyong to ensure a high conviction rate in drug cases.
As mayors, De Leon said they sit at the helm of peace and order councils, which involves ensuring that their constituents are protected from criminal elements and threats of illegal activity; drugs.
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