GMA vows to wage all-out war vs drug trafficking

"This is a fight to the finish."

President Arroyo vowed yesterday to wage an all-out war against drug trafficking to save the country from turning into a so-called "narco state" where drug lords enjoy strong influence on the government.

The President issued the pledge in a speech at the national consultative conference on peace and order held at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel.

"While I am President, I promise you I will lead the fight against the drug syndicates, kidnapping syndicates and other vicious criminal elements in the country. There will be no compromise or hesitation in this battle," Mrs. Arroyo stressed.

She added that misfits have no place in the Philippine National Police (PNP) and that their days are numbered.

"On various occasions, I have expressed confidence in the PNP leadership," she said.

The President cited the policemen who supported the military-backed people power II uprising that toppled the Estrada administration and catapulted her to the presidency.

She said PNP chief Director General Leandro Mendoza has repeatedly assured her of the organization’s loyalty and support to her leadership.

Mrs. Arroyo also quoted Mendoza as saying during an open forum that; "This is a government worth dying for."

She said the forum was the first phase of a national summit on peace and order.

"This summit will be the fifth summit in eight years. Ironically, during the years that summits were being held in 1996 and 2000, the PNP reported an upward trend in crime in the country, with an annual increase of 1.4 percent," Mrs. Arroyo said.

Conversely, she said the PNP reported that the crime rate dropped by 14 percent during the first six months of her term compared to the same period last year.

She pointed out, however, that a decline in the crime rate does not necessarily mean crime incidents have gone down.

"There may be a decrease in the number of reports (about crime incidents), not in the number of crimes committed," Mrs. Arroyo said.

She said she was particularly concerned with the problem on illegal drugs. "I am very concerned with illegal drugs because we do not want our country to become a narco haven. We have the example of Colombia in Latin America where narco politics became so embedded that drug traffickers succeeded in putting their people in positions of political power and influence," the Chief Executive said.

She warned that if the people, the government and the police will not join hands in combating the drug menace, the Philippines might become another Colombia.

"I pray to God that this will never happen to our country. Drastic problems require drastic solutions. I will not allow the Philippines to become a narco state where drug lords lord it over the country, striking fear into the hearts of our people and eroding the moral fiber of our nation," the President stressed. – Jose Rodel Clapano