PDEA, DND take on rebel drug threat

From the Manila Bulletin (Apr 11): PDEA, DND take on rebel drug threat

It is no easy feat to keep the country safe and free from drug-related harm, but the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Department of National Defense (DND) have committed to take on the challenge.

Based on reliable information obtained by the PDEA, communist rebels are reportedly turning to the illegal drug trade as a major source of funds for arms smuggling.

This is to sustain their planned uprising against the government. In return, leaders of the drug syndicates have been forging alliances with rebel groups for protection and self-preservation.

“The national threats posed by dangerous drugs and insurgency problem may be the same or unequal in scope and magnitude, but they have somewhat learned to co-exist and mutually benefit from one another,” said DND Secretary Voltaire Gazmin when he visited the PDEA.

He added that the illicit production, trafficking, sale, distribution and use of illegal drugs is a serious threat since people under the influence are more likely to commit heinous crimes.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr. pledged to help the DND by suppressing the supply of illegal drugs in the country while the defense agencies guards against external and internal threats to national peace and security.

These two institutions have their own battles to wage against different adversaries, said Cacdac, but nonetheless have vowed to make a united stand against anything or anyone who threatens to inflict harm to the country and its people.

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