COLONEL Joeresty Coronica, director of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), is making a noteworthy appeal to all churches in the city — regardless of denomination.
He wants them to include in their sermons the evils of the shabu trade and addiction.
A veteran of anti-illegal drug campaigns not just in Bacolod but also in Iloilo, Coronica believes churches can play a vital role in the police’s efforts to combat illegal drugs, especially methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.
By using the pulpit, he hopes that sermons can become a powerful tool for reducing demand for illegal drugs.
“Local churches can really emphasize the horror behind shabu use,” he said.
A bold appeal, indeed.
Receptive Audience
Church leaders in Bacolod appeared open to Coronica’s suggestion.
In an interview, Reverend Father Julius Espinosa, head of the Bacolod Diocese’s Social Action Center, said they welcome the proposal.
“Actually, most Catholic churches in Bacolod are already preaching about the evil of illegal drugs. But it would be better if Colonel Coronica could write a formal request addressed to Bacolod Diocese Bishop Patricio Buzon so a pastoral letter can be sent out to all churches, encouraging them to consistently include the city’s anti-drug campaign in their sermons,” Father Espinosa said.
He stressed that the fight against illegal drugs is not just the police’s battle—but everyone’s.
Imam Abu Al Jannah of a Muslim mosque on Sta. Ana Street, Barangay 30, also expressed support, emphasizing that their community strongly opposes illegal drugs, gambling, crime, and other vices.
Likewise, an elder of Iglesia Ni Cristo in Bacolod (who requested anonymity) said that regardless of whether the police ask them, they already preach about the dangers that illegal drugs pose to individuals and society.
Encouraging, indeed.
₱49-Million Drug Haul
So, what prompted Coronica to reach out to churches?
A quick rewind: Between May 18 and June 29—just 45 days—Bacolod police confiscated a total of ₱49.77 million worth of shabu in six major operations.
On June 28 alone, BCPO’s anti-drug operatives seized ₱10.4 million worth of shabu in a single bust at Hermelinda Subdivision, Barangay Mansilingan.
Five suspects were arrested and now face charges under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2012.
A day later, on June 29, police confiscated ₱1.9 million worth of shabu in Purok Mahirup, Barangay Feliza, arresting two more suspects.
Coronica, unsurprisingly, praised his team’s stellar accomplishments.
Not Just ‘Haka-haka’
Let’s be clear: Shabu is rampant in Bacolod. That’s a fact—not just haka-haka (hearsay).
The latest trend? Smuggling shabu hidden in powdered milk pouches, fabric conditioner tubes, potato chip canisters, and other household packaging.
Need proof?
Recall the May 28 incident at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, where a 62-year-old woman bound for Bacolod was arrested carrying ₱13.7 million worth of shabu concealed inside milk cartons.
That’s it, pancit!
This writer spoke with Lieutenant Colonel Mark Darroca, chief of the Silay City Police Office and a former anti-drug czar in Western Visayas, about the latest smuggling tactics in Bacolod and Negros Occidental.
Darroca’s insight is spot-on. He revealed that drug syndicates today are becoming “artsy”—camouflaging shabu or party drugs in everyday items like biscuits, detergent, and snacks, and sending them via private couriers.
In response, Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay, director of the Negros Island Region Police Office, ordered intensified operations across the newly created region.
A Humanitarian Concern
During the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, many Catholic leaders condemned the bloody Tokhang campaign on humanitarian grounds.
Alarmed by thousands of extrajudicial killings of alleged drug personalities, priests and bishops voiced their opposition to the government’s approach.
Now, Coronica is taking a different path—urging churches to preach about the perils of shabu and its destructive impact on humanity and society.
It’s a wiser, more community-oriented strategy—though it may need additional effort and coordination to be fully effective.
The fight against drugs isn’t just the police’s responsibility. It’s everyone’s concern—especially parents who must be vigilant about their teenagers’ activities. Recent reports reveal that shabu addiction is now affecting individuals as young as 15.
‘Anesthetize the Pain’
Coronica aptly noted that police operations only “anesthetize the pain” of the real problem of shabu addiction.
Behind every large drug bust are families silently suffering, broken by addiction.
While billions of pesos in seizures are recorded in police reports, the emotional and psychological wreckage in families remains hidden and unspoken. This is a hush-hush reality beyond the reach of statistics.
Now, the police are calling on the churches to join them in a deeper, more meaningful campaign: Shabu in sermons. It aligns with a powerful truth:
“Consider drug addiction to be both a sin and a disease—one that can only be overcome through prayer, scripture, and unwavering faith in the Holy Trinity.”
Colonel Coronica may have just hit the right mark in his quest to mitigate the drug problem in Bacolod.
As motivational speaker Tony Robbins once said: “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”
In sum, Coronica is taking the right steps—one stroke at a time./PN
