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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO – Six towns may soon be declared drug-free, according to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO). These are Mina, San Rafael, Alimodian, Tubungan, Dueñas, and Maasin.
Barangay drug-clearing operations are being conducted in these towns until Dec. 15, said Chief Inspector Aron Palomo, IPPO spokesperson.
“Wala sila positive arrests these past months,” according to Palomo, and this could be a sign that there were no illegal drug activities in these areas.
Still, he said, these towns’ claim of being free from drug trafficking activities will be validated by the IPPO.
For an area to be officially declared drug-free, it must have no pusher, user, drug den, drug laboratory or marijuana plantation.
The validation will start at the Barangay Anti-Illegal Drug Abuse Council of each town’s villages and go up to the municipal advisory council.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has the final say on the drug status of the towns, said Palomo.
But should the towns succeed in attaining drug-free status, the antidrug campaign must continue, he stressed.
“Anytime nagabalik gulpi ang droga, they should not let their guard down. Daw disease ina nga kon wala ka sang proteksyon or shield, anytime matapikan ka sang trangkaso,” Palomo explained.
Vigilance is crucial, especially in the barangya level, he stressed.
Palomo noted a decline in the number of anti-illegal drug operations in the province.
“There is a downtrend in terms of arrests. Even our special operations unit on illegal drugs now has a hard time hunting down drug traffickers,” he said.
But Palomo viewed the slowdown positively. This meant drug traffickers were slowing down in their operations, he said.
“Waay na gawa gabaligya basta-basta,” said Palomo.
This, in turn, has resulted to a drop in supply of illegal drugs and a rise in their prices.
“Medyo budlay gawa ang baklanay,” said Palomo.
The IPPO hopes the downtrend will continue./PN
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