(By Ellicia Del Mundo)

The Department of Interior and Local Government on Thursday vowed to continue the war on drugs or the anti-illegal drugs campaign by the Duterte administration.

In a report by RH8 Christian Mano on MBC Network News, DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos said the agency will tighten the war on drugs campaign to end the ongoing illegal drug trade.

Abalos warned the drug peddlers to hide as the government together with the public will not stop exterminating drugs.

“Sa atin dito, it is war against drugs. Itutuloy namin, napaka-ganda ng ginawa ng Pangulong Duterte, talagang intensified. Talagang i-intensify namin ito, walang tigil ito, pukpukan talaga ito. Kung sino man malaking tao iyan, magtago ka na. Nandito ako, nandito si General, nandito ang PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency), at nandito ang taong bayan,” the DILG Secretary highlighted.

Abalos made his statement after the successful buy-bust operation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Drug Enforcement group in San Fernando, Pampanga on Thursday, July 28.

The PNP has confiscated 60 kilograms of shabu worth Php 405 million. It identified Hernani Lorano Cosumo, 31 years old as the drug suspect.

Abalos also said the DILG and Department of Justice (DOJ) will help the PNP to ensure that drug suspects will not escape the cases charged to them.

“Ako very concerned about the procedures, about the technicality. Very concerned ako diyan kaya yun ang inuna ko. In fact, nagkaroon kami ng mentorship eh. Ang ibigsabihin ng mentorship ay yung mga imbestigador natin ay tuturuan ng mga taga Department of Justice, ire-reassess, parang isu-suplement nila. So yung mga gaps, itutuloy namin ito para sa ganon matibay talaga ang kaso,” he explained.