CALBAYOG CITY – Mayor Ronaldo Aquino who look forward to working closely with the national administration in promoting peace, security and prosperity particularly for the city, defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, corruption and criminality against critics by saying that “it would have been too irresponsible not to act against the people responsible for proliferating prohibited or illegal drugs.”
“In Calbayog City alone, illegal drug traders were already attempting to control some of the villages and some of those in the justice department are paid to let criminals go while some local police are in the employ of illegal drug traders. To have not acted could have brought more havoc to our society.” Aquino stated.
“In Calbayog City alone, illegal drug traders were already attempting to control some of the villages and some of those in the justice department are paid to let criminals go while some local police are in the employ of illegal drug traders. To have not acted could have brought more havoc to our society.” Aquino stated.
Referring to MASA MASID (Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Illegal na Droga) as a more holistic anti-criminality, anti-graft and corruption, anti-illegal drugs enforcement approach, Aquino stressed that “involving the stakeholders – such as the barangay officials, educators, students, business sectors, people’s and non-government organizations – in the fight against criminality triggers awareness of the program and make the citizenry more vigilant towards our quest for an orderly society. A whisper from an individual may be a small voice and may not be heard. But a noise can be created when everybody starts whispering at the same.”
The Mayor was more than elated to the support signified by the people of Calbayog City to the launching of the MASA MASID Program in the city on November 14, 2016 with majority of the 157 barangays duly represented, private and public schools and students, national and local government offices, private institutions, the Greater Calbayog Chamber of Commerce.
The Mayor was more than elated to the support signified by the people of Calbayog City to the launching of the MASA MASID Program in the city on November 14, 2016 with majority of the 157 barangays duly represented, private and public schools and students, national and local government offices, private institutions, the Greater Calbayog Chamber of Commerce.
“We have prepared seats and provisions for one thousand five hundred (1,500) participants but lots of participants were still standing inside and outside of the city’s convention center and still many more who just went home for lack of space in our venue. The city is blessed with people who are cooperative in the quest for peace, order and security and for which reason I can say that MASA MASID program has way to go with its launching in the city. The people in Calbayog really supports the programs of President” Aquino said.
Further, the city mayor said that “I make myself available to everybody and anyone. All of the people in Calbayog knows my number because I announce it on stage every time I am asked so people can get in touch with me anytime needed. I don’t see any reason why I have to keep my number from the people I serve. I believe that in cases of emergency, lives can be saved thru a message or a phone call. The people of Calbayog know that I go where I am needed any time of day or night.”
“Information relayed to me about drugs is immediately forwarded to the police for validation and with the credibility of the informant also verified so as to be able to address reports effectively and avoid miscalculations, false-alarms and unnecessary operations by the police,” Aquino explained.
Further, the city mayor said that “I make myself available to everybody and anyone. All of the people in Calbayog knows my number because I announce it on stage every time I am asked so people can get in touch with me anytime needed. I don’t see any reason why I have to keep my number from the people I serve. I believe that in cases of emergency, lives can be saved thru a message or a phone call. The people of Calbayog know that I go where I am needed any time of day or night.”
“Information relayed to me about drugs is immediately forwarded to the police for validation and with the credibility of the informant also verified so as to be able to address reports effectively and avoid miscalculations, false-alarms and unnecessary operations by the police,” Aquino explained.
With full admiration to the leadership of President Duterte, the Mayor continued to say that “PRRD is the first Philippine President to confront head-on with the problem on criminality, particularly on drugs, which is a very critical thing to do.”
“Oplan Tokhang implementation in the city yielded about 1,245 drug personalities – around 70 from which are self-confessed pushers - who turned themselves to the police. Those summoned for unscheduled but immediate drug tests were found already negative of the chemical components of marijuana and shabu. Except for a handful who would be needing rehabilitation, drug proliferation and use in the city appears to have significantly dropped based on drug tests and police operations against drugs,” Aquino elaborated.
Furthermore, the city’s local chief executive informed that “none from those summoned among the 1,085 employees of the city were found to be positive on the use of the illegal drugs. On the other hand, there are some villages in the city where only 7 or 8 out of ten village officials submitted to drug tests which makes those who did not comply suspicious. Ultimately, however, we will be calling their attention to make them undergo mandatory drug test or face the consequences of their disobedience.”
“Oplan Tokhang implementation in the city yielded about 1,245 drug personalities – around 70 from which are self-confessed pushers - who turned themselves to the police. Those summoned for unscheduled but immediate drug tests were found already negative of the chemical components of marijuana and shabu. Except for a handful who would be needing rehabilitation, drug proliferation and use in the city appears to have significantly dropped based on drug tests and police operations against drugs,” Aquino elaborated.
Furthermore, the city’s local chief executive informed that “none from those summoned among the 1,085 employees of the city were found to be positive on the use of the illegal drugs. On the other hand, there are some villages in the city where only 7 or 8 out of ten village officials submitted to drug tests which makes those who did not comply suspicious. Ultimately, however, we will be calling their attention to make them undergo mandatory drug test or face the consequences of their disobedience.”
“The city has sustained its campaign against illegal drugs and crime which started and was going on even before PRRDs administration. We all wanted to ensure that no one’s rights are violated. We are going to demand that our communities are respected and that justice prevails for all of us. Our barangay officials and police force have strengthened the campaign against illegal drugs if only to show that we are serious in our advocacy to make our city drug-free.” Aquino emphasized in his speech during the MASA MASID launching.
Because of the intensified war against illegal drug traffickers and other criminals, police records posted a 65% drop in the crime rate for the period covering July-November 2017. Aside from the restoration of law and order in the city, better services, lower taxes and zero tolerance for corruption make business establishments, government agencies and schools thrive in the city. Mayor Aquino concludes that with high income coming from the business environment, Calbayog will be able to provide better social services to its people – particularly the poor. (CJ/JOSEPHINE MENDOZA/JAZMIN BONIFACIO)
Because of the intensified war against illegal drug traffickers and other criminals, police records posted a 65% drop in the crime rate for the period covering July-November 2017. Aside from the restoration of law and order in the city, better services, lower taxes and zero tolerance for corruption make business establishments, government agencies and schools thrive in the city. Mayor Aquino concludes that with high income coming from the business environment, Calbayog will be able to provide better social services to its people – particularly the poor. (CJ/JOSEPHINE MENDOZA/JAZMIN BONIFACIO)
