Nat’l security adviser says AFP to form anti-drug units

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon on Tuesday said the military would soon take a more active role in the war on drugs.

In an ambush interview following the oath-taking of newly promoted generals in Malacañang, Esperon said President Rodrigo Duterte had long wanted the Armed Forces to be part of the war on drugs.

“Di ba sinabi niya doon sa command noong isang gabi na the Armed Forces—PDEA [Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency] is the lead, Armed Forces will support. Noon pa naman,” Esperon said.

Esperon said certain units in the AFP would be assigned to deal with illegal drugs.

“Ganito iyan, ang pagde-deploy niyan, it’s not the Armed Forces as a whole. May mga units units iyan na specific. Akala mo na Armed Forces, drugs na lahat. Hindi,” Esperon said.

“You do not employ the entire Armed Forces sa anti-drugs. Gagawa iyan ng units talaga para hindi kanya-kanyang operate. Kailangang may designated units…” he added.

Once the anti-drug units are in place, the military could start arrest drug personalities.

“Arrest iyong ano kapag nandoon sila sa—as part of the operations, they are deputized by PDEA, then why not?” Esperon said.

In his speech delivered before AFP chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Año and other generals, Duterte indicated the importance of the military in his war on drugs, especially as the PNP begins its internal cleansing.

"Kung hindi ko kayo ipasok sa laro, patay ako. Walang magtingin diyan sa abusadong pulis. The culture of corruption sa pulis, matindi," Duterte said.

Asked about the revival of the Philippine Constabulary (PC), the National Security Adviser reminded that such move would need approval of the Congress.

“Maaaring makatulong. That’s one of the ideas. The drug war is already here. So that’s another thing, iyong revival ng Philippine Constabulary with local police. Pupunta pa iyan sa Congress,” Duterte said. —NB, GMA News