Gov’t, MILF join hands vs illegal drugs in Moro areas

DAPITAN CITY -- The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have agreed to join hands in the drive against illegal drugs in rebel-held areas in Mindanao.

This decision is contained in the “Agreement of Cooperation and Coordination in the Campaign Against Illegal Drugs in MILF-Controlled Areas” forged by the parties’ representatives to the coordinating committee on the cessation of hostilities (CCCH), and the ad hoc joint action group (AHJAG) which was purposely formed for joint law enforcement initiatives.

Earlier, the MILF has offered to help the administration of President Duterte in its fight against illegal drugs which, the rebel group said, is “already destroying the future of the Bangsamoro people...”

The MILF has its own campaign against illegal drugs in Moro areas, launched in November 2015, and officially sanctioned by its central committee.

The campaign, the group have said, “identified hundreds to thousands of drug pushers, especially in central Mindanao.”

The new collaboration between government and the MILF will mainly entail information sharing, and coordination in the conduct of law enforcement operations against suspected illegal drug traders as well as in demand-reduction initiatives.

In information sharing, the MILF is enjoined to submit a list of drug personalities identified in its area, subject to validation by law enforcement agencies.

Through the CCCH and AHJAG, the MILF may also recommend other measures “in support to the campaign against illegal drugs” to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the relevant units of the Armed Forces, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Immigration and Deportation.

The rebel group, which forged a peace pact with government last March 2014, is also given go-signal to conduct information drive on the ill-effects of illegal drugs as part of demand reduction efforts. (Ryan D. Rosauro/Sunnex)