BAGUIO’S 24 drug-affected barangays are currently undergoing drug clearing operations, said City Police Office Director George Daskeo.
The 24 drug-affected barangays include the Kabayanihan, Campo Filipino, Loakan Proper, San Roque Village, Quezon Hill Proper, East Quirino Hill, West Quirino Hill, Guisad Surong, Guisad Central, Camdas Subdivision, Happy Home Old Lucban, Pinsao Pilot Project, Holy Ghost Proper, Upper General Luna, Country Club Village, Apugan Loakan, Happy Hollow, Upper Dagsian, Imelda Marcos, General Emilio Aguinaldo, Aurora Hill Proper, AZCKO, ABCR and Lower General Luna.
Daskeo said the drug-affected barangays can only be declared drug-cleared if they meet the specific parameters, such as the non-availability of drug supply, absence of drug transit or transshipment activity, absence of clandestine drug laboratory, absence of clandestine drug warehouse, absence of clandestine chemical warehouse, absence of marijuana cultivation site, absence of drug den, dive or resort, absence of drug pusher, absence of drug user or dependent, absence of protector or coddler and financier, active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities, active involvement of the Sangguniang Kabataan to help maintain the drug-liberated status of the barangay, existence of drug awareness, preventive education and information, and existence of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk.
As of August, of the 997 drug surenderees recorded in the city, 889 are drug users and 108 are drug pushers, Daskeo said.
Meanwhile, with the city’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs, the Baguio City Police Office has conducted 60 drug busts that resulted in the arrest of 102 drug personalities. A total of P704,709.50 worth of illegal drugs were confiscated.
As a result of the city’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs, crime incidents in Baguio has decreased, said Daskeo.
The 128 barangays in Baguio were earlier reported as drug-affected as a result of the numerous surenderees coming from the different barangays. But the number was trimmed down to 104 based on Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council list and certifications submitted by the villages. (Jho Arranz/PIO)