San Carlos City – Mayor Renato Gustilo recently said the smuggling of illegal drugs in Negros is due to lax security at the Dumaguete City Port in Negros Oriental.
Gustilo was in Bacolod City today with other mayors in Negros Occidental to meet with presidential-candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., and vice presidential bet, incumbent Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
According to Gustilo, based on information given to him by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) the majority of illegal drugs coming into Negros Occidental originate from Mindanao, which is then smuggled in via the Dumaguete port.
He said inspections of everything coming into Dumaguete are not being carried out.
The illegal drugs are then transported into San Carlos where it is then divided among drug groups, repackaged, and distributed to other areas particularly in Central Visayas.
Gustilo said the illegal drugs are being smuggled out of the city via motor boats since the city’s coastline is vast.
“The problem with San Carlos is may port kita [and] lapit kita sa boundary sang Region 7,” Gustilo said.
In order to further combat illegal drugs in the city, Gustilo said he has already introduced a reward system for operatives of the San Carlos City Police Station whenever they successfully intercept and arrest those involved in illegal drugs. (DGB via Negros Daily Bulletin (NDB), photo courtesy of NDB)