Roxas wants more kidnappers, drug lords jailed

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to put more kidnappers, drug lords and gambling lords behind bars.

“I want to see the arrest of kidnappers, drug lords and gambling lords. If anybody says he or she enjoys the protection of high government officials, I am telling you, as far as I’m concerned, that’s a lie,” he said.

“I want to see it in your records that you have arrested dangerous criminals, and don’t tell me you have failed to do so because this or that man has a pipeline to my office,” he told members of the PNP.

Roxas said the illegal numbers game jueteng, which is being passed off by illegal gambling financiers as small town lottery, remains rampant in Southern Luzon, Central Luzon, Northern Luzon and Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, Roxas said his department will set aside P170 million for the repair and modernization of police stations nationwide.                              

Roxas said the facilities of all police stations in the country will be upgraded, with each police station to be given a budget of P100,000 to P250,000 for renovation.