Illegal drugs still a major problem in S. Cotabato

Koronadal City — An official of the provincial anti-drug abuse council (Padac) admitted that the proliferation of illegal drugs, particularly shabu and marijuana, in South Cotabato remains a "top concern" despite the arrests of a number of drug pushers in the police watch list.

"We have done our homework in solving the illegal drug trade in the province but we admit that it is still a big problem to us," Padac co-chairman Eduardo Siason said.

He said this explains why he and Senior Superintendent Romeo Rufino, South Cotabato police director, refused to affix their signatures to a "manifesto" declaring the illegal drug problem in the entire province to have been "eliminated."

"I cannot say that South Cotabato is already a drug-free province...," a local weekly paper quoted Siason as saying.

Siason, however, gave assurance that the council, along with other concerned government agencies, will not stop its campaign against prohibited drugs.

"It is our moral obligation to do so for the sake of our youth," he said as he called on provincial folk to support their efforts.

Siason lauded the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for the arrest of a number of big-time drug pushers here, including an alleged major drug distributor in Surallah town, in recent buy-busts.