By Genalyn D. Kabiling
The country’s drug problem would not go away in the next 10 years amid the possible active operations of international drug cartels, President Duterte admitted last Wednesday.
The President gave a candid assessment of the gravity of the drug menace amid the government’s aggressive campaign against illegal drug trade.
“The drug scene is there and it will not go away for the next 10 years. Pera eh and the idiots,” Duterte said during the presentation of newly designated banknotes and coins in Malacañang.
Duterte recognized that the illegal drug trade remains a problem for the government, citing the proliferation of shabu and cocaine in the country.
“Shabu is lower D, E. It’s a commodity for the poor…it is only peddled in poor, urban areas, blighted area,” he said. “Yung mga taga-rito sa Makati, sa gobyerno, and can afford, it’s now cocaine and we see a very active role being played by the cartel,” he added.
Duterte said the drug cartel from South America was “really a vicious one” while a “new triad” has emerged. He did not elaborate.
Last March, the President tagged the notorious drug cartels from Mexico and South America for smuggling loads of cocaine into the country.
He has blamed Taiwan and Hong Kong-based criminal gangs for using the country as transshipment point of illegal drugs to the United States. He said it behooves upon America to work closely with the Philippines on this “serious matter.”
