Leni’s meeting with UN, US officials not intervention – Lacson

The meeting of United Nations and the US government officials with Vice President Leni Robredo on her new job as cochairman of the Inter-Agency Committee on Illegal Drugs (ICAD) does not constitute foreign intervention.

“No, not foreign intervention. During my time, I was closely coordinating with foreign counterparts, US DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency), Australian police, Hong Kong Narcotics Bureau, Taiwan Ministry of Justice and Investigation. Di masama yan (that is not bad). These are coordination, lalo pag target mo (particularly when your target) is supply side,” Senator Panfilo M. Lacson.

Lacson is chairman of the Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee. He was a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief during the

Estrada presidency.

He said the UN and the US government have information they could share with Robredo on incoming drug shipments.

Their meeting was held at the Vice President’s Quezon City residence.

He stressed that the UN and the USDEA could or should not operate in the Philippines but “they can only provide information.”

“Who would not welcome intelligence information from any source?” he asked.

Lacson said these two organizations get confidential information from members of drug syndicates.

“Why would it be wrong to get intelligence information from counterparts? Kung decline mo ang information, sayang din yan. Ang laki ng intel fund natin (It will be a big loss if we decline to receive information. We have so much intelligence funds),” he said.

On a query whether the Philippine government should be dictated upon by foreign powers in its anti-illegal drugs campaign, Lacson replied: “I don’t think so.”

“This is our internal problem,” he added.

He said the purpose of her recent meeting with the Vice President was to maximize sources of intelligence information.

Lacson then suggested that Robredo networks with foreign counterparts, especially the USDEA, because they have a wealth of information.

“Based on my experience and I shared it with her, malaking maitutulong ng counterparts but don’t allow them to participate directly basta intel report welcome yan (These counterparts can help a lot. They are welcome as long as it concerns intelligence reports),” he stressed.