Bacolod City – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency reported on Wednesday that 500 of 601 barangays in Negros Occidental, excluding those in highly urbanized Bacolod City, have been declared as drug-cleared villages.
A report of the PDEA during the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council meeting held at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City stated that there are still 101 barangays targeted for drug clearing in the province.
Declared by PDEA as drug 100 percent drug cleared were the municipalities of E.B. Magalona, Candoni, Isabela, La Castellana, Manapla, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Valladolid, and the cities of Victorias, Silay, Sipalay, and Bago.
According to the same PDEA report, the provinces of Aklan, Guimaras and Antique are 100 percent drug cleared, Iloilo province is 99.59 percent cleared, Capiz is 93.45 percent cleared, Iloilo City is reported at 52.78 percent cleared, while Bacolod City is 34.43 percent cleared.
The Philippine National Police is validating allegations that some barangay officials in Bacolod City serve as protectors of persons engaged in the illegal drug trade.
P/Col. Joeresty Coronica, director of the Bacolod City Police Office, raised the possibility that the barangay officials concerned did not include persons engaged in the illegal drug activities in the list, since they are allies.
Coronica also wants an evaluation of the different Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils in Bacolod, to determine if they are cooperating in the anti-drug campaign of BCPO.
From February 17 to 23 this year, BCPO reported the seizure of P7.2 million worth of suspected shabu and dried marijuana leaves. In the same period, 19 suspected drug personalities were arrested.
Coronica admitted that Bacolod City is being used as a transshipment point of illegal drugs. He, however, said it does not mean that all the drug supply is being consumed in Bacolod City alone. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds)