NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Taking inspiration from President-elect Rodrigo Duterte's war on illegal drugs, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) announced Saturday, June 4, they have intensified their campaign against illegal drugs.
The NOPPO said they seized about P8 million ($173,000) worth of illegal drugs in the first 5 months of the year, recovering P3.025 million ($65,000) in May alone.
Chief Inspector Mark Darroca, head of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG), said that last month’s recovery was the highest so far in 2016, despite May not being a "peak season" for illegal drugs.
Darroca said they have stepped up their efforts in the past weeks. “Before, city and municipal police stations conduct one or two operations a month. But now, they conduct 4 to 6 operations per month."
Duterte’s thrust on illegal drugs and criminality has had a “moral effect” on the police, Darroca explained, adding that his "operatives were motivated.”
“We saw the campaign of our new president against drugs. Our operatives who were dormant before are now active,” he said.
Despite the drug haul last month, Darroca said it's not an assurance that there is a decline of drug supply in the province.
“We can’t say if there was an increase. We can’t monitor the volume of drugs coming into the province. Its distribution is guerrilla-type – through a parcel, hand delivery and roll-on, roll-off vessel,” he said.
He warned those who are involved in drugs that their days are numbered, while he urged the community to support and help the police in their campaign.
Drug supply and recovery
Darroca said the source of illegal drugs in the province comes from Ozamis City and Lanao del Norte in Mindanao, Cebu City, and Manila.
The supply of drugs will continue if the source is not stopped, he said, adding that authorities have to identify the drug lords inside the New Bilibid Prison. Darroca said that transactions allegedly happen inside Bilibid, while the drug lords' men deliver the supply.
NOPPO is currently validating the list of drug personalities in the Negros Island Region. The regional police, Darroca added, are preparing the wanted, target, top 10, and drug group lists in the region, in case the incoming administration asks them to submit them.
Drug recovery
The provincial police recovered 302.573 grams of shabu, which was worth P3,025,110 ($65,386), while 66 suspects were arrested from 31 operations.
Of the 66 suspects arrested, 28 of them were drug pushers, 31 were users, while 7 were both pushers and users.
Hinobaan town posted the highest figure of drug recoveries with P1,035,700 ($22,386). The lone operation resulted in the arrest of one person, who was charged for sale and possession of illegal drugs.
Next to Hinobaan is Hinigaran town with P848,550 ($18,340) worth of drug recoveries, with 16 arrested persons in 3 operations; San Carlos City with P365,720 ($7,904) recoveries and 9 persons arrested in 4 operations; Himamaylan City with P297,200 ($6,423) and 3 persons arrested in one operation; and Escalante City with P160,850 ($3,476) and 7 arrested persons in 4 operations.
Meanwhile, of the 31 localities in Negros Occidental, 15 police stations had no drug operations in May. These are the towns of La Carlota, Sagay, Sipalay, Talisay, and Victorias, and towns of Binalbagan, Calatrava, Candoni, Salvador Benedicto, E.B. Magalona, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, San Enrique, and Toboso.– Rappler.com
*$1 = P46.27