Abalos defends drug war

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos defended the Marcos administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, saying the evidence would speak for itself.

Following the criticisms from Sen. Ronald dela Rosa that the campaign is too soft in going against syndicates, Abalos yesterday cited over P10 billion worth of illegal drugs seized since the administration took office in July.

Abalos said he was able to talk with the senator and cleared the air as he gave assurance that the government’s campaign against illegal drugs is continuing with the same intensity and fervor as in the previous administration.

Dela Rosa was head of the Philippine National Police when the bloody Oplan Tokhang was implemented by the Duterte administration. He fears that since former president Rodrigo Duterte is already out of Malacañang, drug syndicates are no longer afraid of returning to their old trade.

But Abalos, in an interview with dzBB, assured the lawmaker that the PNP is not just going after drug suspects but also those who coddle them.

“We arrested a PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) member and we are heading towards that direction. The problem here is it would really be difficult to go to war when you have someone, your own kind, shoot you in the back. That’s not right,” he said in Filipino.

Abalos also thumbed down a proposal by Sen. Robin Padilla to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs, including shabu.

“With due respect, it would not help in our campaign. Drug abuse will always start with small amounts. This would not help the youth,” he said.