Military troops in Northern, Eastern Mindanao undergo anti-illegal drug training

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10): Military troops in Northern, Eastern Mindanao undergo anti-illegal drug training

The three-day training of personnel of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) on anti-illegal drug law enforcement started Monday here, a military official said.

Capt. Patrick Martinez, the Army’s 4ID spokesperson, said that the training would expose some 70 elements of the military in Northern Mindanao and Eastern Mindanao in the fight against illegal drugs in accordance with police work.

The activity was a firm response to the current thrust of the National Government in the fight against the illegal drug menace, Martinez said.

He said that the training would further enhance the capacity of each soldier to support the Law Enforcement Operations being conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Martinez said that the training would certainly enhance the collaboration of the PNP and military in the implementation of the "Kabalikat Laban sa Druga" (Partners in the Fight Against Illegal Drugs), a Joint Implementing Plan in line with the PNP's Oplan Double-Barrel.

He said that experts from the PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) were invited as resource persons to provide insights on matters pertaining to the whole process of the Law Enforcement Operations.

It is expected that the PNP and the PDEA would discuss the particular role of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the anti-illegal drug campaign.

Major Gen. Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr., Commander of the Army’s 4ID, said that the “training was aimed at capacitating our troops on the rigors of law enforcement.”

"We need to give our all-out support in order to attain the pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte to eradicate the illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption in the country,” Madrigal said.

The desire of our President to create a drug-free country should be braced not only by the PNP and AFP but by the entire Filipino nation, Madrigal said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=930252