THE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) is targeting exclusive villages and subdivisions in their efforts to reduce crime and enforce their anti-illegal drug campaign.
“Nakikita kasi natin na yong mga krimen natin now is nandoon na sa loob ng subdivision, nasa loob ng pamamahay and so dito kami lilipat at tututok,” said Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Alexander Tagum during Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday, August 28.
He said they noted a decline in street crimes as a result of their intensified Oplan Integrated Revitalized Operation of Neighborhood-Watch of the Mega City, simply dubbed as Oplan Iron City.
In the second quarter this year, index crimes decreased by 44 percent to 382 from 681 in the same period last year.
Murder was down by 42.5 percent to 27 from 47. Physical injury also went down by 16 percent to 111 from 132. Robbery went down by 41 percent to 61 from 104, theft is down by 57 percent to 120 from 282, and motorcycle theft decreased by 92 percent from 38 to three.
According to him, they will coordinate with barangay officials as well as with private security and owner of subdivisions in their implementation so that they can enforce their advocacy campaign, patrols, and operations.
“So we are trying to keep in touch with our barangay officials para ma-revive ang ronda system sa mga private subdivision na hindi na covered ng ating static patrol. Kinakailangan na nating supportahan ang effort ng mga private security guards na nasa subdivision,” he said.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Davao deputy regional director Joel Plaza also said it is a challenge on their part in arresting big-time drug financiers because they do not usually get in touch with drugs and they dwell in subdivisions where they have limited access.
“Ang makikita kasi natin, mabilis lang ma-develop yong mga distribution pero pag mga supplier na malakihan, (hindi masyado), out of touch kasi yan sa illegal drugs. Yong number one natin na ebidensya is yong drugs itself,” he said, adding that due to lack of evidences, financiers remained free.
He, however, assured that PDEA-Davao is crafting strategies on how to better address these issues to capture big fishes in drug trade and not merely the small time drug users or pushers.