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[av_heading heading=’San Rafael town eyes ‘drug-free’ status, but… ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO – San Rafael has been working to be officially declared “drug-free” even before President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office and waged a war on drugs, the municipal police chief claimed.
But Inspector Ruben Perra said certain incidents caused the town’s achievement of such status to hit a snag.
Perra and two other chiefs of police — Senior Inspector Ramon Coriana Jr. of Alimodian and Senior Inspector Elmer Villaruel of Lemery — were facing investigation for having “zero positive operational accomplishments” against drugs from Sept. 9 to Oct. 22.
According to Perra, San Rafael’s Municipal Anti-Illegal Drug Abuse Councils (MADAC) and almost all their Barangay ADACs and cluster leaders have certified that their barangays were free from drugs.
They already submitted certifications to the Police Regional Office 6, he said.
But sometime in July this year the San Rafael police caught a native of Dumarao, Capiz with drugs in the house of his live-in partner in the town, said Perra.
Also, a self-confessed drug user surrendered to them, but his oath of undertaking indicated he was taking drugs with his peers in Capiz, not in San Rafael, he said.
Because of these, the declaration did not push through, said Perra.
Under the Duterte administration the Philippine National Police on July 1 launched Oplan Double Barrel, an intensified antidrug campaign.
Perra stressed he is ready for the impending Iloilo Police Provincial Office investigation.
“Kon ano man ang sanction sang kampo, batunon namon,” he said.
Meantime the San Rafael police will continue their antidrug campaign and monitoring for possible new drug suspects, Perra said.
When their drug-clearing operations are done by November, they will again push for a drug-free status, he said.
San Rafael comprises nine barangays, mostly in mountainous areas./PN
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