PDEA 7: Drug cleared barangay does not mean drug-free after suspect’s arrest in Subangdaku

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA 7) has already proclaimed Barangay Subangdaku in Mandaue City to be drug free due to the community-based drug rehabilitation program that the barangay’s drug personalities underwent. But last Tuesday at 8:35 p.m., August 1, former drug surrenderer Ryan Flores, a graduate of the barangay’s drug rehabilitation program, was apprehended by PDEA 7 agents during a buy-bust operation in San Roque Street of the said barangay. Seized from him were suspected shabu weighing 11 grams with an estimated street value of P74,800, buy-bust money, and a cellphone. According to Leia Alcantara, if a barangay is designated as drug cleared, the barangay itself will monitor the drug personalities in their area, and it does not necessarily mean that illegal drugs can no longer be found there. ”On the question kung maapektohan ba ang status sa Subangdako Dili, dili siya maapektohan because the report came from the barangay and isa gyud na sa target sa Barangay Drug Clearing nga ang barangay mismo silay mangusog monitored nila ang tanang drug personalities sa ilang area,” Alcantara said. (On the question of whether the status of Subangdaku will be affected, no, it will not be affected because the report came from the barangay and it is one of the targets of the Barangay Drug Clearing Program that the barangay itself will exert an effort, monitor all the drug personalities in their area). Alcantara explained that Flores, who is a chief cook in a restaurant, was first classified as a drug user, but he has upgraded to being a drug pusher based on the barangay’s monitoring. For this reason, the barangay coordinated with PDEA to arrange for the suspect’s arrest. The PDEA 7 had subjected the suspect to an investigation to identify the new drug players in the barangay who can be included to the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council’s (BDAC) list of drug personalities and urged to enroll in a drug rehabilitation program.(AYB, TPT)