A ranking official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is eyeing to tap the elite Special Action Force (SAF) in running after big-time drug lords and traffickers whom President Duterte wants to eliminate.
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, the PNP’s Chief Directorial Staff, cited the police commandos’ integrity as the key factor in their inclusion in the war on drugs amid the shabu recycling allegations that hounded the police force.
“I firmly believe that you (SAF commandos) are the most qualified unit to run after big-time drug lords,” said Eleazar in a speech during the graduation of six classes from SAF commando courses.
“The discipline, the bravery and the integrity you have make you the most qualified warriors that President Duterte has been looking for to finally finish off the illegal drugs problems in the country,” he added.
Earlier, Duterte said he wanted the government’s anti-narcotics units to focus more on big-time drug lords, even declaring that he wanted them all dead.
Drug lords have been responsible for the continuous supply of shabu in the country.
A police official earlier said that the Philippines has been consuming at least three tons of shabu every week.
Eleazar said that illegal drug business is indeed a multi-billion peso industry in the country, which makes drug cartels and drug lords continue to operate despite aggressive government campaign.
“We cannot expect drug lords to easily give it up because it’s a multi-billion peso business. They will fight for it at all cost. The President, on the other hand, is determined to finish this problem,” said Eleazar.
“Illegal drugs are threat to national security and drug lords are the worst enemies of the State. So the President is right, this is already a war,” Eleazar declared.
But the aggressive campaign has always been marred by the involvement of policemen as either protectors of drug syndicates or in drug-recycling activities.
This is the part, according to Eleazar, where the SAF would fit in.
“As members of the police elite force, you are PNP’s last bastion of integrity. The kind of discipline that you have been molded into, the warrior that was brought out from each and everyone of you, and the tried-and-tested integrity that your senior haves shown make you the worst nightmare of drug lords,” said Eleazar. (Aaron Recuenco)
