Belgica vows to help BBM in drug, corruption war – The Manila Times

FORMER Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) chairman Greco Antonious Belgica said he is ready to help President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in his administration's fight against the illegal drugs and corruption in the country.

Belgica, who is pushing for the reimposition of the death penalty for heinous crimes, said he has already been in talks with the incoming administration.

Marcos, who is set to assume the presidency on June 30, earlier vowed to continue the drug war and sought to go after the big-time drug dealers.

The incoming president even offered a Cabinet post to President Rodrigo Duterte as a drug czar.

Marcos said he and Duterte have met more than once, with at least one of those meetings happening before the May 9 elections.

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"One thing that he was very assertive about was 'continue the anti-drug syndicate that I started. Do it your own way.' He (Duterte) really said that," Marcos said.

But Duterte, the father of Marcos' running mate Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio, has declined the offer.

Duterte won the 2016 presidential race due to his hardline stance against illegal drugs and criminality.

Meanwhile, Belgica reiterated his warning that there may be a resurgence in drugs in the country now that Duterte's term is ending.

He claimed that there are still government officials and law enforcers who are involved in the illegal drug trade.

"Drugs and crime are still proliferating on the streets. This is the biggest obstacle to our development. The fight started by PRRD (President Duterte) must be continued and strengthened, because if not, the people, our families, and the youth will suffer," Belgica said.

The former PACC official also cited the need to support the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to boost the government's fight against drugs and corruption.

"The Office of the President must be involved in this task and the full trust and confidence of the President is needed for it to succeed," Belgica added.

As PACC chairman, Belgica oversaw the dismissal of around 800 erring government workers and the imprisonment of 24 government officials.

Around 154 cases were filed against high-ranking corrupt government workers before the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice by the PACC.

The agency also acted upon around 13,000 cases and complaints regarding graft and corruption in the government.

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Belgica vows to help BBM in drug, corruption war - The Manila Times