PALO, Leyte- The mayor of this town, Remedios ‘Matin’ Petilla, expressed her full support on the continued campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte against illegal drugs.
Petilla, who is on her third and last term as mayor of this booming town, said that the campaign had an impact on the proliferation of the illicit drugs and thus should be continued until it would be eradicated in the country.
During his second State of the Nation Address (Sona) last Monday (July 24), Mr. Duterte said that his fight against illegal drugs would be “unremitting as it will be unrelenting.”
“I have learned from experience that the economy surges only when there is peace and order prevailing in places where investors can pour in their capital and expertise…” the President said.
Petilla, who is not a political ally of the President, said that she is throwing her full support on this campaign which is heavily criticized by human rights groups and international bodies and countries like the United Nations and the United States.
“I am supporting this campaign of the President. It cannot be denied that this campaign on illegal drugs has helped us a lot,” the town mayor said.
According to Petilla, in her town, more than 300 drug users voluntarily surrendered under the government’s ‘Oplan: Tokhang’ which resulted to the improvement of its peace and order situation.
The lady mayor, who once served as Leyte’s governor for nine years, said that now that Palo appears to have a stable peace and order situation, investors are coming in.
The coming in of investors to their town, she said, will not only help the municipal government but more importantly, generate employment to its people.
“There are several investors who are calling me asking me if we can provide them needed spaces,” Petilla said.
She disclosed that one of the country’s fast food chains is set to open in Palo while a midsize shopping mall will also locate to the town.
One of the country’s biggest housing developers has also signified their intentions to put up subdivisions in Palo, Petilla said.
Meantime, several activities have been lined up for the forthcoming annual town fiesta on August 6 by the municipal government to enliven the celebration.
The activities are meant to showcase the culture and heritage of Palo, considered one of the most important areas in the region being where the country’s liberation from the American forces started and seat of Catholicism here in Leyte.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
