THE Iloilo City Government will tighten their security against illegal drug trafficking during Dinagyang Festival season.
Mayor Jose Espinosa III has already directed the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Special Weapon and Tactics Team (Swat), and the Department of the Internal and Local Government to monitor and eradicate the infiltration of illegal drugs on the period of the event.
“Ang aton PDEA, police, kag Swat ginapalibot ko sa barangay kag gapangbulabog sa aton nga mga areas nga possible source sang droga kay ang activity like this nga damo tawo, magnet sa mga criminal kag sa mga drug nga baligya (I directed our PDEA, police, and Swat to surround the barangays and check the areas of the possible drug source since the activity like this with numerous people, it’s a magnet to the criminals and drug pushers),” he said.
Espinosa said that after the festivals Sinulog of Cebu and Ati-atihan of Aklan, drug traffickers are expected to flock to Iloilo.
“Kay pagkatapos kang Cebu and Aklan na events kalabanan, makadto na sila sa siyudad sang Iloilo (After the events in Cebu and Aklan, the visitors and guests will come in Iloilo City),” he said.
Since last week, he instructed the police to inspect all the airports and sea ports as it was perceived to be the main entrance of illegal drugs.
He also directed them to check-up other possible hotspots like hotels, apartments, and boarding houses.
The authorities will also establish checkpoints to apprehend and arrest the criminals and drug personalities in the city. (Carolyn Jane Abello)