Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) cannot handle all anti-drug operations alone and would require the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

This comes after President Rodrigo Duterte mulled bringing the PNP back into the campaign against illegal drugs, as he was not satisfied with the accomplishments of the PDEA.

Leonardia said there is no other way in terms of manpower.

“There is no other way but to give it to the police,” Leonardia said.

He said the PNP should maintain the same focus and intensity they previously used in the campaign.

During the recent League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) Joint 65th General Assembly, Leonardia said the president’s speech was focused on illegal drugs and corruption.

Earlier this week, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte is considering the reinstatement of police in the leading role in the anti-drug campaign.

Based on an article in the Philippine Star, some 2,525.77 kilos of shabu, or methamphetamine, worth P18.9 billion, were seized under the PNP’s watch.

The agency has also declared 4,295 barangays drug-cleared since July.

Duterte earlier banned the PNP from conducting anti-drug operations following the deaths of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos and 19-year-old Carl Arnaiz, who allegedly tried to rob a taxi driver. Both fatalities were blamed on the police./DGB, WDJ