THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has identified 11 villages as “areas of concern” in illegal drug operations, based on recent monitoring.
These are Barangays 2, 8, 16, 27, 31, 35, 40, Banago, Bata, Singcang-Airport, and Handumanan.
Senior Superintendent Jack Wanky, acting director of BCPO on Tuesday, August 22, said they have validated the existence of consistent illegal drug operations in these villages.
These barangays need to be given much attention, he said.
Wanky said the police are monitoring the illegal drug activities particularly in Puroks Sigay, Cagaycay and Sto. Niño in Barangay 2; Puroks Neptune, Magsaysay, Cagaycay, and Sisi in Barangay 8; and Puroks San Roque, Sto. Domingo, Sto. Niño and Saturn in Barangay Handumanan.
The police are also zeroing in on the Islamic Center in Barangay 31 and the Libertad Public Market area in Barangay 40, he added.
Wanky said he directed the station chiefs to focus on the anti-illegal drug operations and to also operate against high-value target drug personalities.
At present, the BCPO has monitored seven drug groups with high-value target members in the city.
Aside from the intensified drug campaign, Wanky also urged the close coordination of barangay officials with the authorities.
They (barangay officials) should step up their performance to help the police in clearing drug-affected villages, Wanky said.
Last week, Barangays 5, 24, and 41, out of the 61 total villages in the city, were declared drug-free through the validation and certification of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Negros Island Region.
