MORE than a dozen law enforcers in Northern Mindanao have been tested positive for illegal drug use, the regional police director said recently.
Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP)-Northern Mindanao director, said that 17 police officers had been found using illegal drugs and are now undergoing the legal proceedings.
Under Cruz's directive, these police officers have been relieved from their posts and were ordered to report to the regional headquarters' holding and administrative unit at Camp Vicente Alagar in Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City.
"They will stay there while awaiting the conduct of the summary dismissal proceedings against them," he told Sun.Star.
Cruz did not divulge the names of these law enforcers but he said they were assigned in various stations all over the region.
Reactivates anti-drug councils in LGUs
Aside from intensifying its housekeeping efforts to rid the PNP-Northern Mindanao of misbehaving law enforcers, specifically those involved in illegal substance, Cruz said he has also reactivated the various anti-drug councils of the local government units (LGUs) in his area of responsibility.
When he sat down as the PNP-Northern Mindanao chief early this year, Cruz has made it clear that fighting against illegal drugs is his priority concern.
"Our efforts are focused on anti-illegal drugs, as this is the most prevalent problem in the region," he said.
He said that based on studies conducted by the PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), approximately 80 percent of other crimes are drug-related.
Cruz said the role of the LGUs, through the provincial, city and municipal anti-drug abuse councils, is to be the police's partner in fighting the proliferation of illegal drugs in the communities.
He has been heartened by the support of the local chief executives in his anti-drug campaign.
"All LGUs have vowed to support our anti-drug abuse efforts," he said, adding that the LGUs have reorganized their anti-drug abuse councils such as Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan City, and Bukidnon.
Among the local government leaders that have reorganized their anti-drug abuse councils are Governors Herminia Romero and Yevgeny Vincente Emano of Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental, respectively.
He said Romero has pledged the resources of her province to combat illegal drugs in both supply reduction and demand reduction.
Cruz said the heads of these anti-drug abuse councils comprise the regional anti-illegal drug special task force.
The task force, he added, are regularly being updated on the illegal drug situation in the region, especially on personalities and syndicates involved in the drug trade.