AFP to support police in anti-drug operations but says PNP still lead agency

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 19): AFP to support police in anti-drug operations but says PNP still lead agency

While the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is willing to play a role in the ongoing campaign against illegal drugs, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is still the lead agency in the operations.

AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to share the "narco list" to the military is for the latter to be in the know and able to support the PNP if required.

"The context of (President Duterte's sharing of the 'narco list' over the weekend) is information sharing so that the AFP can help the PNP in addressing the problem," he added in Filipino.

And there is nothing usual in the military in helping police carry out law enforcement missions as there some areas in the country where the PNP is thin on the ground, Arevalo pointed out.

"We in the AFP believe on the capability of our police counterparts (and) when our help will be so needed we will be there to support them," he stressed.

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