10 Minalin villages 'drug-cleared'

MINALIN - Ten of the total 15 villages in this town were recently declared drug-cleared by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

This was disclosed by Mayor Edgar Flores of this town who stressed that their municipality is winning in the war against illegal drugs.

Flores said that the local government, together with the PNP, has been implementing programs to eradicate the proliferation of dangerous drugs in their community even before the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

He stressed that their programs and projects were just intensified when President Duterte assumed the Chief Executive post under the Oplan Double Barrel and Double Barrel Alpha.

Flores also disclosed that in the implementation of laws, the local government and local police are not exempting anybody, even elected officials and their families.

He noted his reminder to fellow public officials to refrain from using the “padrino” system and surrender themselves or members of their families who are known to be involved in illegal drugs to avoid being tagged as drug coddlers.

Meanwhile, Flores said that he is not setting any deadline for the remaining five barangays but vowed to sustain all efforts to assist them in complying with all the requirements.

He added that he cannot pressure the village officials as he wants to obtain legitimate reports to ensure peace and order in the town.