Azurin said since July, police conducted a total of 18,505 anti-illegal drugs operations that resulted in the arrest of 22,646 drug personalities.
Azurin and Battle Against Drugs (BAD) founder and president Dr. Danilo Bornales signed a memorandum of agreement on Monday, November 14, in a bid to address the drug menace, one of the factors hindering the growth of the country.
“The entire police force remains steadfast to the anti-illegal drugs programs of the government with the aim that Filipinos everywhere could enjoy peaceful society and embrace greater sense of security by sustaining vigilant trust and confidence in our law enforcers,” he said.
“As we sign this memorandum of agreement, we express our desire to support Battle Against Drugs to foster governments genuine, sincere, and God-leading intention to sustain the fight against illegal drugs in the country. Let this accord serve as an instrument to further synergize our strategies and inter-operability schemes on how to defeat the growing complexity and threat of illegal drugs and criminal elements,” he added.
During his assumption of office, Azurin vowed to sustain the gains of the campaign against illegal drugs, but this time, they will coordinate and communicate more with the communities particularly the barangay as they know their constituents better.
He said his guidance to the police is to put at the highest priority the preservation of life and respect to human rights.
Azurin said the Marcos administration fully supports the PNP’s more focused holistic approach on putting a stop to drugs and criminality and this signifies the government’s commitment to shaping up mechanisms in terms of improving the country’s peace and order and safety environment for the Filipino people.
The top cop also assured every citizen of the country that under his watch, the PNP will continue its tireless pursuit of completely reforming the police organization in line with our internal cleansing and reformation program.
“Our PNP Internal Affairs Service and Integrated Monitoring Enforcement Group are working hand in hand in monitoring and implementing appropriate actions against erring personnel who will be found guilty especially those engaging in drug related activities,” said Azurin. (SunStar Philippines)