Coordinate with pension house operators, PDEU told

SENIOR Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), directed the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) to have a close coordination with the employees and owners of pension houses in the province.

This, after several drug bust operations were conducted in pension houses in September.

Castil, in a text message to SunStar Bacolod, said: "Ang mga gumagawa ng illegal ay gagawa talaga ng paraan para sila ay makalusot (Those who are engaging in illegal drugs will always find a way to continue their illegal activity).”

On August 30, target subject Alvie Taco, 35, and his companion Barthly Boaquiña, 27 were arrested in a drug bust inside a pension house at Barangay 9, Kabankalan City, which resulted to a recovery of P150, 000 worth of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride).

Taco has a pending case for violation of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 but was out on bail while Boaquiña, a driver, was convicted for the same offense, police records showed.

After two days, four persons, including two female minors, were also arrested in a drug bust inside a pension house at Barangay 2, San Carlos City.

Police identified the suspects as target subject Roy Abasolo, 34, of Barangay 5; Bryan Baylosis, 18, of Barangay Maglahos, Vallahermoso, Negros Oriental; and two female minors aged 15 and 16, of Vallahermoso town and San Carlos City, respectively. The operation yielded an estimated P84, 000 worth of suspected shabu.

Castil said using pension houses as a venue for the illegal drug trade is not new. Thus, he told the PDEU to maximize their efforts in monitoring illegal activities at these places.

He said he already instructed the PDEU to reach out to the employees and owners of these establishments to prevent these cases.

He also encouraged the community to join in the efforts of police to make the province drug-free. (GYM)