Duterte's fight against illegal drugs

It is of public knowledge the proliferation of prohibited drugs in our country has reached an alarming level. In cahoots with police protectors, the convicted drug lords inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa continued to carry out the illegal drugs trade as if the government were not aware about it. They were so comfortable and influential that past governments failed to stop them.

And for quite a long time now, they remain to be so because previous administrations didn't have the political will to go after them. Laxity on the part of the government has something to do with it. But this time it is completely different. Change has come.

Prior to President Duterte's assumption into office, a significant number of drug pushers and users in different parts of the country voluntarily surrendered to the police; others were so unfortunate that they died in shootout with the police during buy-bust operations.

Saying he has a sacred obligation to the Filipino people, President Duterte divulged the names of the drug lords (as mentioned earlier) as well as the police protectors responsible for the proliferation of prohibited drugs in the country. In the coming days, he will likewise divulge in public the names of the local chief executives after ascertaining the veracity of their involvement in the illegal drugs trade.

In keeping with his campaign promises, the president is determined as ever to go after them no matter what will be the cost.

Under his administration, we can expect a lot of changes to be undertaken particularly in the economic and social structures, ensuring that every Filipino is part and parcel of the new administration's quest for a peaceful and progressive Philippines. His main target is to minimize and/ or suppress the proliferation of prohibited drugs - the root cause of the many social ills plaguing the country today. The drug menace must be put under control first before focusing on the other priorities.

Unknown to many, our new president is a graduate of San Beda College of Law in Manila in 1972. One of the educational institution's objectives is to inculcate into the minds of its students the transformative administration and governance. In conclusion, President Duterte put into practice the theoretical knowledge that he learned from his alma mater.