PRO9 bares accomplishment report on anti-illegal drug operations

By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY, January 21--- The government has been fighting against illegal drugs for a long time, the official of Philippine National Police (PNP) says.

P/BGen. Boen Joel Masauding, the regional director of the Police Regional Officer (PRO9) in his message read by Colonel Romeo Espero, the deputy regional director for operations (DRDO) during the dialogue with the newly elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials held recently said that in order for the problem of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking to be efficiently addressed, the drug demand reduction policies and programs are strictly implemented.

Masauding said that the PNP implemented drug supply and demand reduction by conducting 1,098 anti-drug operations which led to the apprehension of 1,200 drug dens and drug personalities, and seized 15 kilograms of shabu and 200 grams of marijuana with combined standard price of P100,500,000.

Masausing added that the PNP in partnership with other national government agencies and grassroots partners are conducting barangay drug clearing operations where of the 1,789 barangays that are drug affected, 1,389 barangays have already been cleared and only 400 barangays or the equivalent of 25% are left.

The official said that in the month of January, the PNP is scheduled to conduct another round of drug clearing operations in 12 barangays in the region.

The regional director announced that of the five (5) provinces in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga del Sur stood out for having the highest number of supported intervention programs for people who use drugs (PWUDs).

He added that the success of their campaign against illegal drugs is attributed to the strong support of local government units (LGUs), national government agencies (NGAs) and various stakeholders.

He also urged the barangays and SK officials to stand firm in their support of the BIDA program of the DILG so that they can sustain the drug clearing operations and establish a safer, healthier and livable society.

Meanwhile, Governor Victor Yu urged barangay officials not to entrust the campaign against illegal drugs to PNP personnel because the number of police forces in the province are very few.

Yu firmly believes that the economy of a place will only prosper if it is peaceful.He said even though we have concrete roads, complete schools, and the barangays have hospitals, but the area is very chaotic, no development can be achieved and the people do not have peace of mind because they are afraid.

"You must be united, work hard and fulfill your responsibilities as barangay officials so that our province can be peaceful and prosperous," Yu concluded. (jcc/The Pagadian Times)