(File photo)
MANILA – The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Wednesday pledged to strengthen coordination with other stakeholders to ensure airtight cases against suspects in illegal drug operations.
This came after Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. noted that many drug cases are dismissed due to technicalities.
"For the campaign against illegal drugs or what PNP (Philippine National Police) Officer in Charge Lt. Gen. (Vicente) Danao calls a 'drug war', the NCRPO will continue its intensified operations in Metro Manila at any time of the day with proper coordination with the (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) PDEA (primary agency), barangay authorities/elected officials, media personalities and DOJ (Department of Justice) representatives in order to ensure round-the-clock availability of witnesses during evidence inventory," NCRPO Chief, Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad, said in a statement.
Natividad said this renewed approach is geared toward a glaring "demand reduction" on illegal drugs.
He also ordered the Regional Investigation and Detective Management to review the conviction rate on illegal drug cases as some of these were either dismissed due to a lack of witnesses or the suspects were released for further investigation.
Meanwhile, Natividad said the NCRPO would also strengthen the fight against cybercrime as criminals have shifted their activities to social media and digital platforms.
He said information dissemination would be maximized to prevent the public from being victimized.
Training courses and seminars will be conducted for police officers who would be tasked to relay the information to the public or deal with cybercriminals.
Natividad also urged all district directors and chiefs of police to intensify the crackdown against the illegal use of sirens and blinkers in all checkpoints and patrol operations. (PNA)
