War vs illegal drugs still priority
The anti-illegal drug campaign will still be one of the top priorities of the Police Regional Office-6 in 2018, according to its regional director, Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag.
"With the memorandum order mandating us to provide support to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the fight against illegal drugs, we are more than ready," Binag told his field commanders during the PRO-6 New Year’s Call held at Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City on Wednesday.
“Our program to require community vetting of members of the Drug Enforcement Units was lauded by the local community and the national headquarters," Binag said, as he urged police officials in the region to steer PRO-6 to greater heights this 2018.
When asked on PRO6’s biggest lesson in 2017, Binag cited the concern on the low turnout of drug surrenderers, numbering about 21,000 only in Western Visayas, or around one percent of the population, since Oplan Tokhang started.
But could the PRO6 has zero death in the campaign against illegal drugs? "I will rely on judgment call of my people. Each operation is being studied,” he said, adding that he also doesn’t want his men wounded or killed as a result.
And as PRO-6 embarks on its works and plans for 2018, a general sentiment of optimism filled the PRO6’s event, as the officials said they are inspired by the government’s support on the PNP, particularly on the salary increase starting this month.
"It's the highest salary increase in history ever. And we would like to thank our national leaders for making this happen," said Binag, who together with his wife, Dr. Agnes Binag, received top police officials and their respective spouses during the New Year’s Call, a traditional event in police regional headquarters where subordinates renew their pledge of loyalty to the Flag, and manifest courtesy and loyalty to their regional commander.