Mayor calls support for anti-drug campaign anew

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2016/12/09/mayor-calls-support-anti-drug-campaign-anew-514217
• Friday, December 9, 2016

By Reynaldo G. Navales

ANGELES CITY -- Three-term City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said, the City Government, under his administration has been supportive in the anti-drug campaign of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The mayor said that the war against drugs and maintenance of peace and order are the thrusts of President Rodrigo Duterte that the local officials fully support.

“Our partners in this regard are our police forces, whom we continue to support.”

In 2016, Pamintuan said the local government provided 30 patrol cars and 50 motorcycles to the city police forces to “help them to carry out their tasks at maintaining and eradicating drugs in our streets and communities.”

The city’s chief executive also stressed the need to construct rehabilitation centers to implement the recovery program for suspected drug pushers who voluntarily surrendered to authorities.

“We see drug abuse and illegal trade as symptoms of greater social problems, like poverty.

Which is why we are working hard at trying to rehabilitate the victims but nonetheless move hard on the hardcore pushers,” he added.

A total of 1,318 individuals have so far surrendered and admitted as drug users and peddlers.

Of this figure, 328, including actor Mark Anthony Fernandez, were arrested and 32 armed drug pushers were killed.

“I made instructions to some of our officials, including Councilor Dan Lacson, to look into the possibility of setting up a drug rehabilitation center at the compound of the Angeles City Police Office in Barangay Santo Domingo,” Pamintuan said.

Container vans were transformed into reformation facilities to rehabilitate the drug users, according to the mayor.

Pamintuan also said the City Government enforced local laws and regulations in traffic, illegal vending, vices, traffic obstruction, environment rules, health and sanitation, among others.

“There is no more room for compromise in this regard.

Kaya yung mga kasama natin, lalo na ang mga barangay chairman, na madalas nagte-text sa akin para ipakiusap ang mga kabigan nilang nahuhuli dahil sa paglabag ng ating mga regulasyon, pasensyahan na lang tayo.

Kayo nga dapat ang nanguna sa pagpapatupad ng ating mga batas,” the mayor said.