A BODY created to coordinate programs against illegal drugs in Cebu Province will assess local government officials’ action or inaction in their areas amid reports that drug money is used to finance certain political careers.
Provincial Board Member Carmen Durano Meca, Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CPADAC) chairperson, said that a local task force will be created to address narco-politics.
“Narco-politics exists in our province, especially as it is now less than a year before the 2016 elections,” Meca told reporters yesterday.
She said that she was instructed by Gov. Hilario Davide III to address the issue. She did not elaborate, however.
Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Chief Noel Gillamac reported during the CPADAC meeting yesterday that CPPO’s biggest drug haul this year so far was during the May 2 arrest of suspects Maribel Ibo Arcenal and Eduardo Batad Arcenal in Barangay Poblacion, San Remigio.
The police confiscated during the operation two kilograms of suspected shabu valued at P23.659 million.
For the entire first quarter, Gillamac said the CPPO confiscated a total of 3.842 kilos of suspected shabu worth P46.042 million, arrested 745 drug suspects and filed 989 cases in court.
Gillamac said that CPPO ranks first in anti-illegal drugs operations in the region.
In Mandaue, the City Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Team (CAIDSOT) seized P2.2 million worth of suspected shabu during 87 operations conducted since January.
CPADAC executive director Joey Herrera said that mayors are supportive of the anti-illegal drugs campaign under the “Limpyo Probinsya” program. He said that some mayors report to CPADAC and their reports are forwarded to the police for verification.
Pressure
He said that one mayor reported about an influential person being involved in illegal drugs. “There is a possibility that there’s pressure from the chief executive. But I asked the PNP to verify kay basin pamolitika ra na (the report may have been politically motivated),” he added.
Gillamac said that he has instructed CPPO personnel to arrest anyone regardless of party affiliation or blood relations.
In Mandaue, the City Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Team (CAIDSOT) seized P2.2 million worth of suspected shabu during 87 operations conducted since January.
CAIDSOT confiscated a total of 189.91 grams of suspected shabu and 1.21 grams of marijuana from January to the second week of June.
Supt. Julian Entoma, acting police director of Mandaue City Police Office, said that most of the anti-illegal drugs operations were conducted in May in Barangays Centro, Mantuyong and Ibabao.
Pushers
Based on CAIDSOT’s findings, all 27 barangays in Mandaue City are moderately affected by illegal drugs.
“Duna gyu’y pusher sa tanang barangay sa Mandaue City (There are pushers existing in all barangays of Mandaue City),” Entoma said.
He said that in their monitoring, they have not found a drug lord operating in Mandaue. He said that it is also possible that drug personalities just move around Metro Cebu.
The police filed 183 cases since January against 108 suspects they arrested.
Entoma said that each police station is required to conduct at least two buy-bust operations every month and must accomplish at least 6 operations every quarter.
Entoma said out of 27 barangays in Mandaue, there are 16 barangays who have active BADACs and 11 barangays who are not exercise sa asa man? .
He named Brgy. Subangdaku, Brgy. Mantuyong, and Brgy. Ibabao with active BADACs. (UP Cebu Intern Kareen Jean B. Panoril)