The Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) should be tapped in the government’s crackdown on illegal drugs, especially against high-value targets or big-time drug lords, according to a ranking police official.

Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, the PNP’s chief of Directorial Staff, cited the police commando’s unquestionable integrity in his speech during the graduation of six classes from SAF courses last Friday.

“I firmly believe that you are the most qualified unit to run after big-time drug lords. The discipline, the bravery and the integrity you have make you the most qualified warriors that President Duterte has been looking for to finally finish off the illegal drugs problems in the country,” Eleazar said.

The official admitted the government’s aggressive campaign against drugs has always been marred by the involvement of some policemen as protectors of drug syndicates or in drug-recycling activities.

This is the part where the SAF would fit in, he said.

“As members of the police elite force, you are PNP’s last bastion of integrity. The kind of discipline that you have been molded into, the warrior that was brought out from each and every one of you, and the tried-and-tested integrity that your senior has shown make you the worst nightmare of drug lords,” he explained.

Eleazar said the involvement of SAF that he envisions is more on operations since the intelligence aspect will still be at the hands of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and police anti-narcotics operatives who are trained in it.

If SAF commandos are deployed to run after drug lords, he said this would make the illegal drugs campaign more aggressive against high-value targets.

However, he said the decision still remains with the President as their commander-in-chief.

He said the illegal drugs business is indeed a multibillion-peso industry in the country, which makes drug cartels and drug lords continue to operate despite the aggressive government campaign.

“Illegal drugs are a threat to national security and drug lords are the worst enemies of the State. So, the President is right, this is already a war,” Eleazar said.

“Having seen the success of the President’s war against illegal drugs, I, in my personal and current official capacity, shall intensify my efforts to win as many battles in this war (against illegal drugs),” he said.

Earlier, Duterte said he wanted the government’s anti-narcotics units or the next PNP chief to focus more on big-time drug offenders.