ILOILO – Some anti-drug abuse councils in the province are not performing their jobs, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director lamented.
“Non-functioning” Municipal and Barangay anti-drug abuse councils, or ADACs, do not contribute to the government’s antidrug campaign, stressed Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba.
According to Tayaba, MADACs and BADACs are supposed to provide the IPPO with lists of suspected drug users and dealers that chiefs of police and their operatives should go after.
“Supposed to be iyong listahan manggagaling sa kanila,” he told the local press recently.
“[Pero] wala naman silang sina-submit sa kapulisan para maka-come up tayo ng kumbaga up-to-date and real names ng pushers and users,” he added.
But Tayaba was unable to disclose how many MADACs or BADACs in the province are not submitting drug suspect lists, where they are located, or who are in charge.
In this regard, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved a resolution – authored by Provincial Board member Liecel Mondejar-Seville (2nd District) – asking the Department of the Interior and Local Government to monitor the performance of MADACs and BADACs.
The Interior department’s Memorandum Circular No. 2015-63 dated June 16, 2015 stipulates the powers and functions of BADACs. They include:
* planning, strategizing, implementing, and evaluating programs and projects on drug abuse prevention
* coordinating and collaborating with other institutions implementing programs and projects on drug abuse prevention
* gathering and updating data on all drug-related incidents and their effect on peace and order, and coming up with a list of suspected drug users and pushers
* conducting information and education campaign on illegal drug demand reduction
* monitoring the disposition and progress of drug-related cases filed
* organizing the BADAC Auxiliary Team
* conducting regular meetings at least once a month and calling for special meetings whenever necessary
* performing other related functions
Citing IPPO records, Tayaba said 827 of the 1,720 barangays in the province are drug-affected.
The provincial police director urged all drug-infested villages to be more proactive in the campaign against prohibited substances.
In the first quarter of 2018 the IPPO has staged 32 antidrug operations that led to the arrest of 37 suspected drug dealers.
Tayaba hopes that, aside from MADACs and BADACs, local government officials would also help the police in the crackdown on illegal drugs.
He admitted that budgetary constraints hamper their operations, especially that “test buys” they conduct on suspected drug dealers have become costlier.
Tayaba asked local chief executives to extend financial help to their local police but did not specify the amount they need.
Despite the challenges, the top provincial police official believes the antidrug campaign is gaining ground.
“Well, we are winning nga, ’di ba? Relentless naman iyong effort natin,” he claimed./PN
