NCR police office revs up drug drive in Malabon

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) would intensify the drive against illegal drugs in Malabon after President Duterte warned reelectionist Mayor Antolin Oreta to rid the city of drugs in one month, an official said yesterday.

NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar directed Col. Jessie Tamayao, Malabon police chief, to personally supervise the drug war in the city and bring drug pushers and users behind bars.

“The campaign against illegal drugs is very challenging. But we must do more as the President himself ordered us to do so as he personally mentioned Malabon,” Eleazar told Tamayao in his directive.

Eleazar said Tamayao should have Malabon’s 29 barangays, through their anti-drug abuse councils, list known pushers and users and validate these lists before initiating operations “so we could not go wrong.”

Eleazar said he would check on Tamayao’s performance after the deadline given by Duterte, who threatened he would have the mayor arrested and thrown into Manila Bay.

Duterte issued the warning during the proclamation rally of Vice Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, who is running for mayor against Oreta.

Meanwhile, Duterte’s former aide, senatorial candidate Christopher “Bong” Go, vowed to support infrastructure and development programs that would spur progress in Malabon and neighboring cities.

He said residents would enjoy better medical services when the 200-bed San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital is completed. Duterte broke ground for the hospital on Jan. 29.

Go also cited the North Luzon Expressway Harbor Link project and the opening of the Philippine National Railways’ Governor Pascual station extending the PNR’s service from Taguig to Malabon.