BY: RIZALIE A. CALIBO
SIQUIJOR, Sept 25 (PIA)—The Philippine National Police-Siquijor Provincial Pollice Office (PNP-SPPO) recently declared an all-out war against illegal drugs in Siquijor province.
“Our campaign against illegal drugs is very serious in nature,” Senior Police Superintendent Primitivo Tabujara said as he spelled out his commitment to put Siquijor in the lists of the handful few among the drug-free provinces in the country.
Tabujara said attaining a drug-free province entails a lot of effort, unity and cooperation among the PNP, the local government and the community.
With this, Tabujara appeals to the six local chief executives to extend their 100% support to the different programs and plans laid out to eradicate illegal drugs in the province.
He announced that PNP-Siquijor plans to conduct series of orientations, seminars and trainings on the various laws pertaining illegal drugs and its preventive measures to the PNP personnel with the different schools and stakeholders.
Reactivation of the Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADAC) of the municipalities and barangays is also called for to plan and develop strategies for the sustainability of all anti-drug campaigns in the province.
The provincial director stressed that campaigns to the identified barangays where drugs are prevalent and mobilization of barangay ADACs are prioritized.
Tabujara also said that establishment of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) office in the island is underway.
Larena Municipal Mayor and president of the mayor’s league Dean Villa has offered a space at the town’s new Tourism Center at the pier area to house the PDEA office.
The PNP will also be working with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to strengthen the monitoring of illegal drugs because the island, he said is open 360 degrees to all neighboring island provinces.
Augmentation of PNP personnel that will focus on drug campaign and drug-related operations are also planned, he added.
Tabujara thanked provincial governor Zaldy Villa for his support to all the PNP initiatives.
He said the sincerity of the PNP, local officials and all the people to participate will surely lead to the success of the program.
SPPO Provincial intelligence branch (PIB) and provincial anti-illegal drug special operation task group (PAIDSOTG) chief Marve Bolay-og reported that from January to September this year, 13 individuals were arrested for drug-related cases in the province.
PDEA’s agent Mark Maranag encouraged everyone to help and participate in making Siquijor a drug-free province.
The fight against illegal drugs is not only a problem of the law enforcement, nor the PNP, the NBI or the PDEA, it is everybody’s concern, Maranag said.
Municipal mayors Villa of Larena, Mei Ling Quezon of Siquijor, Gerold Pal-ing of Enrique Villanueva, and Wilfredo Capundag of San Juan all vowed strong support during the Crime Prevention week celebration in Siquijor. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor)