VICTORIAS CITY -- Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go said yesterday, July 8, that the anti-drug campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte will continue up to the last day of his term.
Go attended the Anti-Drug Summit 2018 organized by the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee held in Victorias Sports and Amusement Complex yesterday.
He urged about 6,000 village leaders to take the lead in the campaign against illegal drugs.
"If you do not want addiction and illegal drugs in your respective barangays, you should not allow it in your community. You know your neighbors in the barangay and you are aware of what is happening in your barangay," he said.
(Benitez for senator)
Go, during his acknowledgment, introduced Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez to be the next senator.
He also asked the Negrenses to help Benitez to be a senator because he is very much fit for the position.
Go also denied he is running for senator. He said he has been going around the country without the president because he was tasked to do so, adding that “especially in areas where emergency response is needed because we can immediately ask for an immediate solution from concerned government agencies.”
Meanwhile, Interior Undersecretary for barangay affairs Martin Diño, who was also at the summit, defended the proposal to arm the barangay leaders with firearms after several senators and congressmen opposed the proposition.
Diño pointed out the Local Government Code stated barangay captains are entitled to possess and carry firearms within his or her territorial jurisdiction, provided they have to follow the rules and regulations such as acquiring a License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) from the Philippine National Police.
However, he clarified that only barangay officials who are aggressively involved in fighting illegal drugs in their community will be allowed to carry firearms while those who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs will not be allowed and will be removed from office.