A POLICE official admitted that the illegal drug trade in Bacolod City is rampant.
Superintedent Armando Tubongbanua, deputy city director for operation of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said that given the situation, all station chiefs were given a quota to arrest drug pushers operating within their respective areas of jurisdiction.
The station chief who fails to follow the directive will be given a sanction, he said.
Tubongbanua said the recent robbery incidents that victimized two taxi drivers, including one who was killed, can be attributed to illegal drugs.
One of the suspects was under the influence of drugs when the crimes were committed, he said.
“We have to do a serious campaign against illegal drugs to avoid similar incidents,” he said.
Tubongbanua, with the 10 police station chiefs underwent a seminar with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) led by Atty. Ronnie Delicana, PDEA regional deputy director, at the BCPO headquarters Tuesday.
Delicana said that under Memorandum Circular 2009-09 issued by the Department of Interior Local Government (DILG), government officials who fail to follow the required regulation can be charged administratively or may face dismissal from the service.
He said the barangay officials should cooperate with policemen to address the illegal drugs problems in their respective villages.
“The barangay clearing operation would be the source of information validation,” he added.
Delicana said there is a continued operation against illegal drugs in Bacolod, however, he cannot determine how many high profile pushers are operating in the city.