FORMER president and now Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Monday warned the Philippines could became a “narco state” if government officials protecting and working with drug lords were not removed from their posts.
Estrada said drug traffickers and operators of big-time drug laboratories have managed to run their illegal drug trade unhampered in the past decades because government officials in power were protecting them.
“You know, every election, there are candidates—mayors, congressmen, governors, they ask for political donations, campaign funds, from drug lords. Because these drug lords have the money,” Estrada said during the distribution of motorcycles to the first batch of Drug Abuse Resistance Education instructors who have been teaching the anti-drug education program to the elementary public school students in Manila and Pasay.
“You know why there are big drug labs in the provinces? They are protected by these politicians,” he added.
“This is very dangerous, we could become a narco state if we do not stop this.”
“That is why for the sake of our country, let us unite and support President Duterte for making a great stand against these drug lords,” Estrada added, reiterating his all-support to Duterte’s war against drugs.
In providing motorcycles and P2,000 monthly allowances to 15 Dare officers, Estrada said it would help improve the mobility of the Dare instructors in going to and from different public schools.
There were 12 from MPD and three from Pasay Police.
“We believe our Dare officers will be able to reach out to more students if they have the means to travel to different schools. It has been our topmost priority to teach Dare lessons to our youngsters so they won’t get influenced by illegal drugs at their young age,” he said.
Estrada serves as chairman of Dare Philippines, Inc., a private non-profit organization that implements Dare programs nationwide.
Donna Gasgonia, the organization’s executive vice president, said the motorcycles were given to nine policemen from the Manila Police District and three from the Pasay City Police.