Año: Intensified ops vs. drug rings to follow eased up quarantines

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday warned drug syndicates that easing quarantine protocols would mean intensifying the measures and operations to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs.

“Habang lumuluwag na ang quarantine levels sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa ay siya rin namang paghihigpit ng kampanya laban sa iligal na droga. The DILG and PNP will work double time in maintaining the drop of the crime rate in the country that was achieved during the stricter quarantine period,”  Año said in a press statement.

The warning came after Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers, chairperson of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, alerted the law enforcers about the possible resumption of illegal drug operations as Metro Manila shifted to general community quarantine.

According to Año, the agency has actually received reports that some drugs suspects have stopped using illegal drugs during the quarantine.

"Malaki ang epekto ng quarantine sa pagparalisa ng drug syndicates. Dumami rin ang boluntaryong nagbigay ng impormasyon sa pulisya laban sa illegal drug peddlers ngayong panahon ng quarantine," he said.

"The DILG and the PNP will see to it that the momentum and gains in the anti-illegal drugs campaign will be sustained to protect our citizenry from the menace of illegal drugs,” he added.

Año called on drug personalities to "distance" themselves from illegal drugs and use the cash subsidy from the government for the needs of their families.

"Ipagpatuloy ninyo ang physical distancing sa mga llegal drug pushers. Gamitin ninyo ang inyong pera sa pangangailangan ng inyong pamilya ngayong apektado ang hanapbuhay at ekonomiya dahil sa COVID-19 crisis. Gawin ninyo po itong bagong simula sa inyong buhay na may disiplina,” Año said. -NB, GMA News