More persons in illegal drug trade show up in S. Cotabato

KORONADAL CITY-- More and more persons suspected of illegal drug pushers, users and peddlers have showed up to police offices in South Cotabato as June 30 draws near. Village and police officials have intensified information drive for personalities in illegal drug trade to voluntarily surrender and vow to reform for good before a massive no-nonsense campaign against them once the Duterte administration assumes office. Senior Supt. Barney Condes, Koronadal City police director, said the trend that never happened in the past gave the impression that indeed more people are into illegal drug trade.To date, 1,300 have been listed as drug users, peddlers and pushers have voluntarily presented themselves to the police office, made vows to reform and help the police in the campaign against the social menace. Koronadal City has the highest number of civilians who admitted to have used methamphetamine hydrochloride and showed up to police office. As of 5 p.m., 247 individuals have signed a police-made statement of undertaking where the suspects vowed never to engaged in illegal drug activities. They also promised to help the police identify other personalities in the underground activities. Next to Koronadal is Banga town with 244 surenderees and Tantangan with 226. The police offices in T'Boli town had 184, Sto Nino with 154 and Surallah with 145. The towns of Tampakan had 51, Tupi - 40, Norala - 28, Polomolok - 25 and Lake Sebu - 9. But South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance Fuentes said all the 1,300 personalities who made vows before the police authorities were all small fish and the whales are still out there. Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte had offered a Php3 million for anyone who could kill a drug lord operating in the Philippines once he assumed office. He also hinted that police officers who could neutralize a drug user, pusher or peddler will get reward money from the government. All these reward systems the incoming government is offering aims to cleanse Philippine society of what Duterte has repeatedly said evils of society for they kill innocent children and individuals by luring them to use illegal drugs. Human rights advocates and Church in the country have expressed opposition to the incoming president's style of addressing illegal drug problem.