DILG Sec. Mel Sarmiento addresses the members of the newly formed PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (Photo from PNP’s Official Facebook Page).

The Philippine National Police (PNP) recently inaugurated the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (PNP-AIDG), its newest operating unit tasked to go after illegal drugs syndicate.

Speaking at the ceremony, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento said that this move to create a permanent anti-illegal drugs unit shows PNP’s adamant effort to address the country’s illegal drug problem.

“It is imperative that the anti-illegal drugs campaign should be dealt with by a permanent unit in the PNP to ensure continuity and sustainability of policies, plans and programs, as well as adequate funding support and resources,” Sarmiento remarked.

Prior to the creation of the PNP-AIDG, the organization’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force has teamed up with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to go after illegal drug syndicates.

“Since we are dealing with the huge problem of illegal drugs, we cannot relegate the function of addressing this issue to a mere task force or a temporary unit within the police organization which could be disbanded any time,” he added.

During the event, Sarmiento also revealed that around 1.7 million Filipinos are drug users, citing a Dangerous Drugs Board report.

The DILG Secretary also called for the concerted effort of various government agencies in order to succeed in their efforts.

“Concerned government agencies should put their acts together and coordinate all their efforts to address this pervasive social menace, arrest drug suspects, effectively prosecute illegal drug cases, and rehabilitate the wayward,” he said.

The PNP-AIDG will be helmed by P/Sr. Supt. Antonio Gardiola, Jr.

SOURCE: PNP-PIO/DILG