Mayor Garcia on drug operations: Always follow rule of law

CEBU, Philippines — Amidst the national investigation into the war on drugs, Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia emphasized that the rule of law must prevail in all law enforcement operations, particularly in the campaign against illegal drugs.

Garcia pledged his administration's unwavering support for law enforcement agencies in all their endeavors.

This stance was reiterated when Garcia was asked about his administration's approach to the war on drugs now that he is a full-fledged mayor.

“Abogado man ta so of course the rule of law must always prevail. I think that has always been clear from the very beginning but dili lang tingali nato talikdan ang suporta sa tanan natong mga agencies sa gobyerno the Philippine National Police as the PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency),” said Garcia in a press conference yesterday.

In discussions with Police Colonel Antonietto Cañete, chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CPPO), it was revealed that 90 percent of crimes in Cebu City are drug-related.

Garcia also noted that 95 percent of those incarcerated are facing drug-related charges.

“That is really a root cause of the all criminalities here in the City of Cebu,” said Garcia.

Fear Factor

He refuted the perception that people no longer fear involvement in illegal drugs, citing local police reports that show no significant increase in drug cases in thwe city compared to the previous year.

Currently, out of the 80 barangays in Cebu City, Garcia said 33 have been declared drug-free by the Cebu City Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP). Each of these barangays will receive a P100,000 incentive.

Garcia also mentioned reports of illegal drug transactions being initiated by individuals inside the Cebu City Jail, a matter he intends to address in a meeting with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

“It is not only happening in Cebu but all over the Philippines. So maybe must stricter lang jud ang control and measures didto suds a prisohan. Maybe there are instance nga lax lang tingali nga makasulod ang cellphone, I don’t know,” he said.

“Maybe the BJMP has to step up in that particular regard,” he added. — (FREEMAN)