ILOILO – This province is strengthening its first line of defense against illegal drugs with the deployment of 26 newly trained narcotics detection dogs and their handlers to key entry points across the province, bolstering police efforts to intercept drug shipments before they reach local communities.
The 26 K-9 teams, belonging to Class Takaban 2026, completed more than six months of specialized training and will soon be stationed at seaports, airports, transport terminals, and police checkpoints after undergoing on-the-job training in high-traffic operational areas.
This is the second significant step Iloilo has taken in two months to combat drug trafficking. In May it approved an ordinance granting cash rewards of up to P30,000 to Barangay Bantay Droga (BBD) members whose information leads to the arrest and prosecution of suspected drug pushers, including barangay officials involved in illegal drug activities.
Twenty-four of the newly trained K-9s will serve under the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), while the remaining two will be assigned to the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group.
IPPO director Police Colonel Bayani Razalan said the dogs will first undergo on-the-job training in ports, airports and transport terminals to further sharpen their drug detection capabilities before receiving permanent assignments.
“Our K-9 teams will be exposed to actual operational environments through on-the-job training. This will further develop their skills in detecting illegal drugs in high-volume passenger areas such as seaports, airports, and transport terminals,” Razalan said.
Following the training phase, the K-9 teams will be deployed to strategic entry points across Iloilo Province, with several units also reinforcing police checkpoint operations.
Razalan said the deployment forms part of the police’s intensified campaign to stop the entry and movement of illegal drugs into the province.
“The objective is to strengthen our drug prevention and interdiction efforts. We have recorded significant drug seizures in recent operations, and these K-9 units will serve as another layer of security to prevent narcotics from entering our communities,” he said.
He added that the initiative supports the directive of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. to tighten security measures against the entry of illegal drugs into Iloilo.
During the graduation ceremony, the narcotics dogs showcased the skills they acquired during the six-month training by successfully detecting various illegal drugs in simulated search operations.
Razalan expressed confidence that the newly trained handlers and K-9s would become a vital force multiplier in the province’s anti-drug campaign.
“These dogs are not only highly trained but are also reliable partners of our police personnel. Their deployment will significantly improve our capability to inspect baggage, cargo, vehicles, and other areas that may be used to transport illegal drugs,” he said.
The K-9 teams will also support intelligence-driven operations and inspections at major transportation hubs, complementing ongoing anti-illegal drug operations throughout Iloilo.
The Iloilo Provincial Government, meanwhile, reaffirmed its support for the K-9 program, saying it remains committed to providing resources that will strengthen law enforcement efforts and sustain the province’s campaign against illegal drugs.
Just this May, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) unanimously approved Provincial Ordinance No. 2026-04-19 institutionalizing the “Barangay Bantay Droga (BBD) Ordinance of the Province of Iloilo” aimed at strengthening grassroots participation in the province’s anti-drug drive.
The ordinance establishes a province-wide BBD network composed of barangay officials, Sangguniang Kabataan officials, barangay tanods, barangay health workers, nutrition scholars, tricycle and motorcycle associations, and retired police and military personnel.
BBD members who provide information leading to the lawful arrest, filing of charges, or referral of suspected drug pushers will receive no less than P10,000 in monetary reward from the provincial government.
The reward increases to at least P20,000 if the suspected drug pusher is a barangay kagawad or Sangguniang Kabataan official, and to at least P30,000 if the suspect is a punong barangay./PN
