Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 18) — The internal review on police officials supposedly linked to illegal drugs is expected to conclude in around two weeks, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday.
I think in another two weeks or so, we’ll be able to finish that. We’ll be able to review all of that,” Marcos said during a joint meeting with peace and order councils.It’s a very complicated system, and it’s a very complicated situation. Hindi naman tayo pwedeng umaksyon on the basis ng tsismis [We cannot act just on the basis of rumors]. We cannot move on that basis. We have to be very careful because we have to [be] fair. It has to be just,” he added.According to the Presidential Communications Office, Marcos appealed to Philippine National Police (PNP) members to work with his administration, noting that he has an obligation to address the drug problem.Marcos also instructed the national and local peace and order councils to address violence by drug syndicates over turf wars.It stems from the territorial fights over areas where drugs are distributed, (and) who controls the drug trade in that area,” he said.
In January, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos appealed to ranking PNP officials to submit courtesy resignations in a bid to cleanse the ranks of illegal drug ties.
Last week, 49 police personnel were found criminally and administratively liable for the ₱6.7-billion shabu (local version of methamphetamine hydrochloride) haul and “cover-up” in October last year.
Marcos also ordered the councils to address political violence, which he said is among the biggest concerns threatening peace and order.
They happened just after the election and they just… halos sunod-sunod. Kaya’t naging very prominent sa pag-iisip ng taong-bayan na masyado na talagang naging malala ito,” Marcos stressed.[Translation: These happened almost one after the other. So it became very prominent in the minds of the people that it really got worse.]
