THE Pampanga Police Provincial Office (PPPO) said Friday, March 4, that the number of barangays included in the list of drug-cleared areas in the province has increased since November 2021.

PPPO Director Robin Sarmiento bared this during the peace and order council meeting hosted by the Provincial Government at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center that was attended by Governor Dennis Pineda, Third District Board Member Rosve Henson, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Myrvi Fabia, and other officials.

Sarmiento said there are only six barangays from four towns that have not been declared drug-cleared, so this is the focus of their group.

“We are discussing with PDEA [Philippine Drug enforcement Agency] na sana ‘yon ang ma-prioritize na ma-deliberate, kasi ‘pag na-clear ‘yung anim na barangay na ‘yon, plus four na munisipyo ang ating magiging drug-cleared,” he said.

The PPO director also said that theft, robbery, and rape are among the most common crimes in the province.

“‘Doon sa theft at robbery, most of the incidents that has happened ay nangyari sa mga commercial establishment. Itong commercial establishments na ‘to ay dapat mayroong sariling security guards at CCTV, kaya sumulat kami sa mga sangguniang bayan at panlalawigan na sana ma-amyendahan ang existing ordinance para pataasin ang specs ng CCTV para ‘pag nag-imbestiga ang mga pulis ay mayroong magagamit na quality footage, dahil ‘pag mas mababa sa two megapixel, hindi na nae-enhance ng aming crime lab. And also, sana bago bigyan ng business permit ay siguraduhing may security guards para na rin sa kapakanan ng business establishment at ng kanilang customers,” Sarmiento said.

But Sarmiento said that crime incidents in the province have dropped compared to last year. He said they are now paying attention to having more effective crime prevention.

Meanwhile, the DILG and PDEA awarded Pampanga the 2021 National Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Adac) Performance Award for its continued efforts against illegal drugs and for earning 88 functionality points in the 2019 Adac Performance Audit.