The government of the Philippines has signed a protocol of cooperation on anti-illegal drug operations and related activities in Moro Islamic Liberation Front controlled areas.
The protocol of cooperation was signed by Catalino Cuy, Assistant Secretary of Interior and Local Government, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director Isidro Lapeña, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Director Alex Paul Monteagudo, Ad Hoc Joint Action Group chair lawyer Abdul Dataya, and Sammy Al Mansoor, Chief of Staff of the MILF Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces.
The protocol of cooperation includes the conduct of anti-illegal drugs operations and related activities in MILF areas through a ceasefire agreement, with the end goal of filing drug cases against arrested drug personalities.
According to Cuy, the cooperation has been discussed four times before its finalization and eventual signing.
“On December 16, 2016, another meeting between the GPH and the MILF was conducted and it was agreed to have anti-illegal drug protocol that will clearly define the roles of GPH and MILF in various anti-illegal drug activities,” Cuy said.
On March 27, the final draft of the protocol was discussed and agreed to by the two parties.
Cuy said the protocol cooperation with the MILF shows that the entire country can unite against the illegal drug campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“The commitment of the MILF in addressing the drug problem in their areas or communities, will greatly help the war on drugs waged by President Duterte,” he said.
Even before Duterte took the presidency, the MILF already recognized the effects of illegal drugs and the rampant trading of shabu in Bangsamoro areas.
On Oct. 21, 2015, the MILF declared the usage and selling of shabu as “haram” and prohibited in Islam.
PDEA 11 Director Adzhar Albani previously said the supply of illegal drugs here in the city came from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or the Bangsamoro area.