IF China is truly an ally of the Philippines, it should take concrete steps to help an ally eradicate the illegal drug trade in the country, said Gov. Hilario Davide III.
Davide was reacting to the statement of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña that illegal drugs in the country will remain rampant for as long as the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte refuses to make any moves against China, an alleged source of illegal drugs.
He told reporters yesterday that if the President is willing to take advantage of the good relationship he has established with our giant neighbor, he should ask Chinese officials to help destroy the supply of illegal drugs reportedly sold by some criminal elements in their country.
“He (Duterte) can always talk to the president of China. Ingnun niya nga tabangi mi ani among problema sa drugs dinhi kay kasagaran supply gikan sa inyo (Duterte had said that he would help local officials in the fight against drugs, most of which come from China). Ipa-undang na didto, ana kun amigo gyud sila (Stop the problem at its source, that is if Duterte is really friends with his Chinese counterpart),” Davide said.
Osmeña had stated that the President is “afraid” to make any moves against China and claimed that the majority of the illegal drugs being sold in the country is sourced out from there.
However, Chief Supt. Robert Quenery, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 director, believes the shabu is transported from either Manila or some part in Mindanao.
“We don’t have concrete information that it is manufactured here,” he said.
Quenery said that the eradication of illegal drugs is still his office’s priority.
“We are not affected. It’s still the number one order of the day, enhance anti-illegal drugs operations wherever these drugs come from,” he said.
He said that the PRO 7 is coordinating with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to look into reports that some illegal drugs come from jail facilities.
“We have consistently asked BJMP to review their protocols, policy and directives, especially the entry of communication devices inside the jails,” he said.