Eastern Visayas Army reiterates drug-free camp policy

BURAUEN, Leyte, Nov. 15 (PNA) -- The Philippine Army has asked its troops in Eastern Visayas to step up efforts against illegal drugs as part of their internal cleansing.

In his visit to the 78th Infantry Battalion camp here, Army 8th Infantry Division commander Brig. Gen. Raul Farnacio told soldiers to make military camps free from illegal drugs.

The military shifted its focus on cleansing its ranks of illegal drugs after the government and communist rebels agreed to observe ceasefire.

Farnacio earlier met police regional director Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar to assure military’s support to the government’s anti-drug war.

“When I met Director Beltejar, I told him that we need to work together to clean our ranks. We are aware that some law enforcers involved in illegal drugs trade are within our rank,” Farnacio said.

At least three soldiers in the region were discharged from service and are now facing charges after they were caught selling illegal drugs.

“We need to take this seriously. I don’t want illegal drug trade to affect the military organization,” he told the soldiers.

Meanwhile, Farnacio said that although ceasefire is being observed now between the government and communist group, the military will continue gathering information on activities of rebel groups in far-flung communist to monitor possible violations to ceasefire agreement.

“There are still gray areas in that aspect because we know that their ground forces are still there continuing their ideological, political organization. We need to be more vigilant and actively monitoring their violation so that we can report this to their leaders that we are serious in our goal to achieve peace,” Farnacio said. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR