PDEA Director-General Lapeña Calls on Milan State Police Chief, Meets Filipinos in Milan and Northern Italy
PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña (3rd from left) and Philippine Consul General Marichu Mauro (3rd from right) pose with Milan State Police Chief Marcello Cardona (center) after their meeting on May 15 to discuss possible cooperation between their agencies.
18 May 2017 MILAN— Honorable Isidro S. Lapeña, Director General of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), called on the Chief of the State Police of Milan, Mr. Marcello Cardona, at the Collegio Longone on May 15 to explore the possibility of cooperation between their two agencies.
Director General Lapeña informed State Police Chief Cardona of the seriousness of the Philippine Government in addressing the drug problem in the Philippines and proposed to have a formal working relationship with the Milan State Police to buttress its anti-illegal drugs campaign. According to him, their agencies could work out an arrangement that would allow the sharing of information and best practices in this field.
State Police Chief Cardona welcomed the proposal of Director General Lapeña and expressed his readiness to cooperate with PDEA.
Following the call, Director General Lapeña met with the Filipino Communities of Milan and Northern Italy at the Oratorio di Chiesa Santa Maria del Carmine.
The highly-anticipated meeting was arranged by the Philippine Consulate General in Milan as part of its efforts to spread awareness on the ill-effects of drug abuse and trafficking, and to give momentum to its initiative called the Action Group Against Drugs (AGAD).
Director General Lapeña explained the extent of the drug problem in the Philippines, which has been regarded both as a national security threat and a public health issue. He used the occasion to highlight the accomplishments of the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, citing the significant drop in criminality and the widespread positive perception among Filipinos about their safety.
Mr. Vincenzo Cristiano, President of ALA Milano Onlus, a non-profit organization, conveyed his support to the Philippine Consulate and Filipino Communities, particularly in the implementation of AGAD projects. He said ALA Milano could provide experts in the areas of advocacy, training, and rehabilitation.
Consul General Marichu Mauro thanked Director General Lapeña for gracing the event, and all the attendees and organizations for their active participation. She then called on all Filipinos in Milan and Northern Italy to join the AGAD initiative and work together in addressing the drug problem.
Filipinos residing outside Milan, such as Modena, Padova, Turin, Genova, Verona, and Trieste, were in attendance to welcome Director General Lapeña and give their full support to the Philippine Consulate.
For more information, visit www.milanpcg.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philcongenmilan.net. END
PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña delivers his address before the Filipino Community at the Oratorio di Chiesa Santa Maria del Carmine on May 15.