ACTING Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella urged each official in the city, including those in the barangays, to heed President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to support the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
Though Mayor Tomas Osmeña earlier said that he is giving the local police a free hand on the matter after police officials in Cebu were relieved, Labella said the fight against illegal drugs is not for the police alone.
“The fight against illegal drugs has metamorphosed into a social problem. So all members of the society—the police, public offices, religious sector, academe and the ordinary citizens—must work together,” Labella said.
As to the president’s order to reduce red tape in government and spare people from long lines, Labella said he will ask the City Council to pass an ordinance that will complement provisions of the Anti-Red Tape Law.
He believes any delay in government processes is a breeding ground for corruption.
Relief
When he delivered his first State of the Nation Address last Monday, President Duterte mentioned the need for greater efforts from local governments in the campaign against illegal drugs, an end to long lines for government permits, and a ceasefire with leftist insurgents.
The military’s Central Command (Centcom) based in Cebu welcomed President Duterte’s declaration of a unilateral ceasefire between the government and communist insurgents.
Lt. Col. Luzmindo Mamuag, Centcom’s information officer, told reporters yesterday that the announcement is a big development because they also want the war with the New People’s Army to end.
Police Regional Office 7 Director Noli Taliño, when asked about the ceasefire, texted: “Of course there will be peace. Although temporary, it will give some relief to the government forces. The pronouncement of a unilateral ceasefire is a good start to the peace process that government wants to have with the CPP/NPA/NDF.”
Mamuag said, however, that the military will not let their guard down while waiting for a directive from their superiors at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters.
The military campaign in insurgency-plagued places in Visayas—Negros Island Region, Region 6 and Region 8—will continue.
“All our troops, especially the infantry units, they have their own area of operations. Meaning, they will continue with their combat or perimeter patrols, but not with offensive operations,” said Mamuag.
The military official said they are ready for the ceasefire.