BY GERRY LEE GORIT
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The newly-installed chief of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 10 (PDEA-10) has specifically mentioned this city as having problems with the proliferation of illegal drugs.
Atty. Benjamin G. Gaspi, regional director of PDEA Northern Mindanao, said with the 2023 records of the bureau, it showed that out of 80 barangays in this city, only 16 barangays were declared drug cleared by PDEA, with 9 drug free barangays.
Basically, based on the figures reported by the PDEA chief, there are 55 barangays in the city that are still being proliferated by illegal drugs known as shabu. The PDEA chief did not elaborate.
“Medyo may malaking problema sa droga sa ibang lugar based duon sa data natin. Kunwari dito, ang Cagayan de Oro ay maraming barangays na hindi drug cleared, so masasabi natin na meron pang medyo malaking problema sa droga.(There are still big problems in drugs in other areas in Northern Mindanao based on the data that we have. One is Cagayan de Oro. There are more than half of the barangays that are still not cleared from drug problems),” the PDEA chief said.
He said other areas in Northern Mindanao which still have ‘hot spots’ include Bukidnon, Iligan City, Lanao provinces. Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental.
Based on the January 1 to December 30, 2023 record of PDEA-10, Bukidnon, 464 barangays: 337 drug cleared and 21 drug free; Camiguin: 58 barangays, 56 drug cleared and 2 drug free; Iligan City: 48 barangays, 15 drug cleared and 2 drug free; Lanao Provinces: 452 barangays, 337 drug cleared and 82 drug free; Misamis Occidental: 490 barangays, 421 drug cleared and 20 drug free barangays; Misamis Oriental: 424 barangays, 300 drug cleared and 20 drug free; and Cagayan de Oro: 80 barangays, 16 drug cleared and 9 drug free.
PDEA-10 has also confiscated 202 grams of shabu in August, 274 grams in April and 202 in October 2023. These months were the biggest haul of illegal drugs confiscation as per record of the bureau.
ABOUT ERRING PERSONNEL
Gaspi said even in their organization, the drug menace has also proliferated. But they are thoroughly investigating who among the policemen of PDEA were linked to the drug trade.
Those personnel found guilty, the PDEA chief said, will be dismissed from the service as they are not fit to become law enforcers.
Earlier, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos reported that there are policemen who have been investigated because of their alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
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