Top drugbuster bares 10-point action plan

The newly installed commander of the Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF), adopted yesterday a 10-point action program which he will implement in his first 100 days to sustain and revitalize the war against illegal drugs.

Director Ricardo de Leon emphasized that he will continue the program of action of his predecessor, Philippine National Police chief Director General Edgar Aglipay "to realize our ultimate goal of a drug-free society."

Aglipay turned over the helm of the AID-SOTF to De Leon yesterday during simple rites presided over by Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco, PNP deputy chief for operations, and attended by ranking police officials at Camp Crame.

"Truly, the stewardship of General Aglipay will be a tough act to follow," said De Leon. "Sustaining the success of this agency will not only be a challenge, but a journey of a thousand miles which must begin with a single step."

During Aglipay’s term, AID-SOTF dismantled 15 shabu laboratories and warehouses while confiscating at least P22 billion worth of shabu, raw materials and equipment used to manufacture illegal drugs.

AID-SOTF also arrested 37,468 drug pushers and users, exceeding the target of 24,000, cleared 5,364 drug-affected barangays and neutralized 239 active drug syndicates nationwide.

De Leon thanked Aglipay for paving the way for the achievement of more gains in the campaign against the drug menace.

"As I take the helm of AID-SOTF, ‘Exclude No One’ will be the order of the day," said De Leon as he invoked the two basic guarantees of the Constitution, "No one is above the law and everyone is entitled to the equal protection of the law."

In his first 100 days, De Leon vowed to address "bangketa," and "hulidap" cases; conduct an inventory all cases and status check; update the list of Top 10 wanted drug personalities and organizations; establish linkages with the religious sector and the local and international community; update a police watch list; strengthen the informant reward system; train and educate officers on relevant jurisprudence; capability building, and an austerity program.

"I will make it my personal crusade to extricate and root out the scalawags from this agency," said De Leon as he warned cops engaged in extortion and planting of evidence.

He admitted that his effort will go to waste without the participation of the community. "Demand and supply reduction of illegal drugs will be our primary focus. This is a gargantuan objective that requires all the resources of this agency."