DDB chief gives Aquino a passing grade

DAGUPAN CITY – Secretary Antonio Villar Jr., chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), gave a 70 percent rating to President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III in his first 100 days in office.

“I am a known ally of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, but I support Aquino because we are also for good governance. Sa sinasabi niyang tuwid na daan, susunod tayo diyan dahil ito ay para sa kapakanan ng bayan,” he remarked.

Timeline: First 100 days of the Aquino presidency

Villar made the statement during the Induction Program of the Vice Mayors League of Pangasinan (VMLP) Sunday here.

The VMLP is headed by Calasiao Vice Mayor Roy Macanlalay, one of the founding members of Biskeg na Pangasinan, a provincial political party chaired by Villar.

Villar, however, expressed dismay over the 20 percent budget reduction of the DDB.

“Although the number one project of P-Noy is against illegal drugs, nagtataka ako bakit binawasan ang pundo namin. Dapat mag-concentrate tayo sa campaign against illegal drugs dahil 90 percent of the crime incidents are drug related,” he stated.

Meanwhile, he encouraged the vice mayors to be vigilant against the proliferation of illegal drugs in their localities. (Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre/Sunnex)