The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has a list of local chief executives and other elected officials in Mindanao who are involved in illegal drugs.
In a press conference here yesterday morning, Interior Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueno said the MILF will be actively participating in the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs in Mindanao.
“The MILF will be helping us in identifying suspected drug personalities and possible drug laboratories operating in areas that have the group’s presence,” he said.
Sueno said the MILF and the Government of the Philippines (GPH) sealed an agreement on Tuesday night for cooperation and coordination in the effort to reduce drugs in areas where the rebel group has presence.
The two-page document was signed by Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) and Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) chairs Brigadier General Arnel dela Vega and Brigadier General Glen Macasero for the GPH and lawyer Abdul M. Dataya and Butch P. Malang for the MILF.
“We saw the willingness of the MILF in helping us eradicate drug problems in their areas,” Sueno said.
He said there was an initial exchange of information between the two parties on Tuesday night.
“They have the list of local chief executives and other elected officials in Mindanao involved in illegal drugs,” he said, adding that the next step would be to validate the information.
The MILF and GPH law enforcement agencies will start joint anti-illegal drug operations in Mindanao by the end of the month, with focus in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Central Mindanao.
For his part, DILG spokesperson for security and police matters Catalino Cuy said the anti-illegal drug operations of the GPH and MILF will be anchored on Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.Sueno said reports have revealed that drugs in the ARMM Central Mindanao come mostly from drug suppliers in Manila and Cebu.
Cuy, a former director of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said the two parties agreed to share and exchange of information.
The MILF will also submit a list of drug personalities identified in all provinces in Mindanao. Drug-related information from the MILF will be relayed to anti-drug units through the AHJAG and CCCH of the GPH.
Also, the MILF is allowed to conduct information drives on the ill effects of illegal drugs in MILF areas as part of its demand reduction activities.
“Such information drive may be conducted in coordination with the barangay, municipal, city, or provincial and-drug abuse councils,” Cuy said.
Source: Mindanation
