Malabon mayor to Duterte: We’ve been fighting drugs even before admin’s drug war began

In response to President Rodrigo Duterte's challenge for him to clear Malabon City of illegal drugs in a month or face arrest, Mayor Antolin Oreta III on Wednesday said his city has actually been fighting illegal drugs even before the President launched his drug war in 2016.

In a statement, Oreta said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) can attest to the fact that the local government is "not and will never tolerate drug abuse."

Oreta mentioned that nine out of 21 barangays in Malabon City or 40% were already declared "drug-cleared," and that the city has the highest number of anti-illegal drug programs in Metro Manila.

"We deeply appreciate the President's concern about the drug situation here in Malabon City but our record speaks for itself," he said.

"Even before the President declared his war against illegal drugs, Malabon City has been conducting its own anti-illegal drug campaign, and in recent years, our city was even recognized by no less than the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on multiple occasions," Oreta added.

Oreta said local authorities and communities have always made great efforts to make Malabon City one of the first 100% drug-cleared cities in Metro Manila.

Duterte made the challenge to the Malabon Mayor during the PDP-Laban campaign rally in the city which was attended by Oreta's rival for the mayoral post, Vice Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, wife of reelectionist Malabon Representative Federico "Ricky" Sandoval II.

The Sandovals are members of the ruling PDP-Laban party. — MDM, GMA News