Despite the directive of PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa to Police Regional Directors to solve drive-by shootings or they will get sacked, the new regional director of the Regional Police Office says the war against illegal drugs is still the priority campaign of their office.
This was disclosed by Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, PRO-7 regional director, in an interview Monday, on his first visit to Negros Oriental.
According to Chief Supt. Espino, the PRO-7 has been successful in reducing the supply of drugs, especially shabu, in the Central Visayas region.
However, even with the drop in the supply of illegal drugs, Chief Supt. Espino stressed that the war against drugs cannot be won without the cooperation and support from the community.
“What we need is the cooperation from local executive and other stakeholders”, he said
Also, there must be corresponding efforts on demand reduction, because according to him, even though the supply has gone down, there is still the demand.
“That is why we are encouraging to help us in the rehabilitation of the drug surrenderers”, Espino said.
The PRO-7 regional director emphasized the need to continue efforts on drug prevention and the education of the youth and in the schools on the illegal drugs problem.
Meanwhile, when asked about “rogue cops”, the regional police director assured that the PNP’s internal cleansing program is ongoing.
Espino warned that those involved in this kind of “shenanigans, like extortion, hold-up and violation of police operational procedures” will be arrested, investigated and subjected to administrative cases.
But of course they will be given due process, he added. (Metro Post/with a report from Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)