Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU, August 4
(PIA) – With a marching order to go head-on in the battle against illegal
drugs, policemen in Central Visayas possess “high morale” with the support of
no less than President Duterte and the chief of the Philippine National Police.
Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, regional
director of the Police Regional Office (PRO-7), said policemen are more
motivated now to take action against drug personalities knowing that the war against
illegal drugs is a top priority of the commander-in-chief.
Taliño said unlike before, policemen
are a bit hesitant in an all-out war amid the risk of being sued.
“With the full support of the
President and the Chief PNP, our policemen are more motivated with high morale
to wage war against the illegal drug problem,” said Taliño.
The PRO-7 chief also lauded the
support of some businessmen and private individuals in Cebu who are willing to
provide assistance including giving reward system to the police who can nab
high-profile drug personalities.
“We have inked a MOA (Memorandum of
Agreement) with some retired judges and fiscals who have volunteered to provide
legal aid to police personnel who might be sued in the war against illegal
drugs,” said Taliño.
But Taliño said that even without a
reward system, the police would continue to do their job adding that the fight
against illegal drugs need the total support of the local government units.
According to Taliño, part of the
priority actions taken by the PRO-7 is the internal cleansing within the
institution.
“We already have a list of personnel
who are perceived to be drug protectors and we are now validating them,”
claimed the PRO-7 director.
Meanwhile, Taliño welcomed the
support of the Cebu Archdiocese which committed to open their church to those
who surrendered and help them reform.
He also extolled the support of the
Technical Education and Skills Authority (TESDA-7) by promising to provide
skills training to those who surrendered for them to be “employable.”
"The support we receive means
that the people are already fed up with the problem of illegal drugs and other
forms of criminality," said Taliño.
Over 60,000 drug users and pushers
combined voluntarily surrendered to the police throughout the region from July
1 to 28 alone as the number continues to rise with the ongoing Tokhang Program
of the police, Taliño said.
Under the Tokhang program, policemen
will visit the houses of suspected drug users and pushers and ask them to stop
using and trading illegal drugs and to voluntary surrender to the police.
(rmn/fcr/PIA7)