By PR | 01:40 AM May 25, 2024
Bohol is one of the safest provinces in the country after its accomplishment ranked it among the most number of drug-cleared barangays.
PLt. Col. Norman Nuez, Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) Provincial Community Affairs Development Unit chief made this disclosure Friday.
Nuez was one of the resource persons during the May 24 edition of the Capitol Reports that included Chona Egam, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency investigation agent and lawyer Suerlan Magale of the Public Attorney’s Office in the Regional Trial Court Branch 4.
According to Nuez, this year’s barangay drug clearing program showed that 672 or 62% of 1,109 barangays in the province barangays in Bohol have been cleared of drugs.
As of latest count, 11 municipalities have been declared 100% drug-free. They are the towns of Albuquerque, Alicia, Balilihan, Candijay, Catigbian, Garcia Hernandez, Loboc, Lila, Maribojoc, San Isidro, and Trinidad.
Nuez explained that the main reason for the existence of illegal drugs in the province is the presence of drug personalities who still have not been rehabilitated.
He pointed to Bohol’s 654km coastline, limited resources and multiple entry ports as the other factors that contribute to the challenges faced by law-enforcers.
The combined efforts of government agencies have resulted in the confiscation of multi-million worth of illegal drugs.
Despite the continuing success in the anti-drug operations, critics continue to sow intrigues to discredit the government efforts but the provincial government under Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado remained committed to it.
Data gathered from the BPPO from January to May this year showed that there have been 257 operations conducted so far resulting in the arrest of 268 suspects and a total haul of 14,620.46 grams of confiscated drugs worth P99,419,128 or nearly P100 million.
To boost the campaign, they have tapped the Bantay Dagat volunteers, fisherfolks and barangay tanods to help protect the coastlines.
The BPPO in partnership with the provincial government is also allocating programs such as the community based rehabilitation program and the rehabilitation and wellness program that was introduced in every barangay in the province.
At the same time, the surveillance and intelligence team of the PNP has been strengthened to sustain the gains.
Nuez admitted in answer to questions that the main cause of illegal drugs trade the continuing demand.
The PNP and BPPO in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government, and PDEA have committed to reduce if not remove the demand to lessen and permanently solve the problem illegal drugs.
There are two strategies which the PNP is looking into: supply reduction and demand reduction.
Egam revealed that in addition, law enforcement agencies are seeing to it that all these efforts will not go to waste.
PDEA confirmed that from January to May, 266 operations conducted were mostly buy-bust operations resulting in the confiscation of a total of 15 kilos of illegal drugs.
In answer to questions about the plea bargaining, Magale clarified that this is not exclusive to drug cases and is applied in different cases according to existing rules of procedure.
He added that this is based on the pre-requisites and qualifications and dependent on the decision of the court.
The speakers stressed that the campaign against illegal drugs will not succeed without the support of the people.
As this developed, Nuez invited the public to witness the disposal of the illegal drugs collected in the province on June 6 via live streaming since it will be held in Cebu. (PIMO/RJG)
