BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said Tuesday, November 19, that President Rodrigo Duterte has asked him about the problem on illegal drugs in the city.

Familiaran, who represented Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Bacolod City in a joint command conference of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and National Press Corps to end local communist armed conflict meeting in Manila on Monday, said that President Duterte delivered his policy direction on his administration.

“I’ve got a chance to talk with him for about 20 minutes to thank him for his personal endorsement during the election, and we discussed the illegal drugs problem in the city,” he said.

He added that President Duterte also asked him about the current director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and other matters that he refused to reveal.

Familiaran noted that the meeting, which started from 3 p.m. until 12 midnight in Malacanang, was attended by various cabinet secretaries, Regional Peace and Order Council Team, and chairpersons of Regional Development Council including some mayors in various regions.

Leonardia, who represented the Philippines, is still at the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders in Durban, South Africa.

Familiaran said President Duterte discussed several topics such as the problems on illegal drugs, shortage of rice, among others.

President Duterte earlier ordered Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espinedo, the newly assigned deputy city director for operations of BCPO, to kill drug suspects in Bacolod City.