By AARON B. RECUENCO
Illegal drugs syndicates and personalities will not be spared this Yuletide season and, in fact, will be aggressively hunted down due to the expected upsurge in demand of illegal drugs.
Director General Ronald dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the ceasefire declared by President Duterte is only for the New People’s Army (NPA) and other threat groups like the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
“It’s ceasefire for the NPA and other threat groups, but for illegal drugs, it’s fire,” said Dela Rosa.
The official explained that they anticipate the increase in the demand for illegal drugs this Christmas season because the people have a lot of money due to bonuses and a time where a lot of parties are taking place.
Aside from shabu, which is the common illegal drugs being used in the country, police are also running after the use of marijuana and party drugs like ecstasy.
“Everybody wants to have money and everybody wants to be happy so there are also plenty of shabu. So there will be no let up in our anti-drugs operations,” said Dela Rosa.
Duterte earlier declared truce with the communist rebels from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2 amid his earlier action to cancel peace talks and declaration of the group as a terrorist organization.
Dela Rosa, however, explained that the suspension of operations also cover other threat groups.
“The declaration is actually not for the enemies but for the soldiers and the police for them to experience Christmas with the family,” said Dela Rosa.
