THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Davao is monitoring drug activities in the region after receiving an intelligence report that 60 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride commonly known as shabu with an estimated P720 million value sneaked in from Marawi City.
During the Kapihan sa PIA on Sunday, March 1, at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, PDEA-Davao assistant regional director Lawyer Behn Joseph Tesiorna said they received information from their counterpart in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) that a bulk of illegal drugs has been distributed in some parts of Mindanao including Davao Region.
They received the information in December 2019 from a suspect who was apprehended in Barmm. Tesiorna said this explains why a massive value of illegal drugs was recovered during drug busts and at checkpoints here.
“Kanang mga apprehension karon part na na siya mao ng dagko ang apprehension karon, part na siya sa 60 kilos nga nakalusot na-monitor gikan sa Lanao area,” Tesiorna said.
(The apprehensions now is part of the 60 kilos that sneaked in from Lanao area.)
He could only surmise that almost half or 30 kilograms have entered the region either by land or by sea. Since there are more roads and accessibility has improved, illegal drugs movement is also fast.
From January to February 26, a total of 322 operations have been conducted by different law enforcement agencies and arrested 440 personalities. During the operations, a total of eight individuals were killed after attempting or resisting arrest.
Drug enforcers also seized P9.7 million worth of shabu and P130,800 worth of marijuana.
In the coming months, they are expecting more apprehensions as PDEA-Davao is intensifying its monitoring in Davao Region areas especially Tagum City where drug activity is most active.
Tesiorna, however, said information from the concerned citizen is an effective way to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs.
Most of the apprehended suspects in Davao Region identified Marawi City as their source of illegal drug supply.
In Marawi City, law enforcers are having difficulty to stop illegal drugs.
“Lisod i-penetrate ang Marawi para sa law enforcement. Dili mi ka-sulod didto. Control nila ang area eh. Entire force sa Armed Forces, buskag ang Marawi lisod kaayo,” he said.
(It is hard to penetrate Marawi on the part of the law enforcement. They have control of the area. Even the entire force of Armed Forces of the Philippines had a hard time.)
As the election draws near, Tesiorna said that supply of illegal drugs will increase. Drug syndicates will gather funds to support the opponent of President Rodrigo Duterte who is known for his strong stance against illegal drugs.