Party-list calls drug agency to curb illegal drugs

THE Anak Mindanao (Amin) party-list expressed alarm over a US State Department report that said the illegal drugs business in the Philippines continue to pose a significant threat to national security.

Amin Representative Ariel C. Hernandez said with an annual value ranging from US$6.4 billion to US8.4 billion, it is not farfetched that the illegal drugs business in the country may indeed influence the outcome of the elections.

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Hernandez urged the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), being the lead agency in the fight against illegal drugs, and other law enforcement agencies to do all they can within their constitutional mandate to prevent illegal drugs money from influencing the outcome of the elections.

“But more than the PDEA and other law enforcement agencies, the people’s vigilance and involvement in the campaign against illegal drugs are needed because our law enforcement agencies can only do so much. They also need our support,” he said.

Hernandez also expressed alarm that narcotics have started to sprout its evil tentacles in the political arena of Northern Mindanao.

This, after PDEA-Northern Mindanao director Gilberto Abanto disclosed that five politicians running for elective positions in the region are included in their watchlist.

The US State Department also reported that Northern Mindanao is among the Top 3 Regions most affected by the illegal drugs trade along with Cebu (Region 7) and Metro Manila (National Capital Region).

“I believe the voters today are not that gullible anymore and will just buy anything that politician-candidates will peddle to them. I believe the voters are intelligent and will not put in a position of power someone they know who have ties to the illegal drugs trade in our communities,” Hernandez said.

Amin is a party-list group founded in Mindanao to advance the aspirations and dreams of Mindanawons for lasting peace, equity and development.

It is among the party-list groups that won seats in Congress since the party-list system was introduced in the country’s political system.

The party-list was formed to effect reforms in the electoral and form of governance in Mindanao and in the rest of the country, in general; promote genuine peace and sustainable development in the country, particularly in Mindanao; and to work for a just and humane economic, political and cultural condition of all peoples, especially the marginalized sector.

In the May 10 elections, Amin is again seeking another seat in Congress as it vows to continue pushing for the “Mindanao Agenda.”