THE City of Bacolod has intensified its campaign against illegal drugs in the 61 barangays.
Executive Assistant Samuel Montoyo Sr., liaison head of City Drug Abuse Council (Badac), said Sunday, May 5, that he will hold a meeting this week with the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to discuss the illegal drug problem in the city.
“Our mayor (Mayor Evelio Leonardia) is very serious to address the illegal drugs problem here,” he said.
He added that they have already the list of barangays with drug operations conducted by BCPO.
Montoyo noted that in rural barangays, only three barangays have no drug operations. These are Barangays Alangilan, Montevista and Pahanocoy while in urban barangays, there were 24 barangays with no drug operations.
He said most of the drug operations were conducted in the areas of Barangays 1, 2, 3, 8, Singcang-Airport, Banago, Mandalagan, Vista Alegre, Villamonte, Bata, Handumanan, Alijis, Felisa. Sum-ag, Tangub, Pta. Taytay, Estefania, Cabug and Granada.
“We should concentrate in these areas and we should establish a plan on how to neutralize the drug pushers especially, the transient drug suspects who are operating in different barangays,” he added.
BCPO records showed that from February 9 to April 14, they conducted a total of 107 police operations against illegal drugs in various areas of Bacolod.
A total of P21 million worth of illegal drugs were seized during these operations.
Montoyo earlier urged the barangay officials to do their part in strengthening their Barangay Drug Abuse Council (Badac) to address the drug problem within their areas of jurisdiction.
“We need the cooperation of Badac because they have a big responsibility to address the drug problem within their barangay,” he said.
He added the barangay officials are on the frontline and they are the ones who can identify the drug personalities within their areas of jurisdiction.
Montoyo disclosed that its part of their campaign to declare more drug-free barangays in the city.