Ramirez asks police chief to intensify checkpoints

CEBU, Philippines - The worsening problem of illegal drugs in some barangays of the municipality of Medellin, northern Cebu was raised during the visit of town officials in Barangay Tindog last week.

This prompted Mayor Ricky Ramirez to reiterate his call to elements of Medellin Police Station to strengthen their campaign against illegal drugs by conducting checkpoints in strategic areas.

Barangay Canhabagat was specifically mentioned where illegal drugs are reportedly rampant.

“Records will bear me out, I have documentary evidence to prove that I have been constantly writing the police chief asking him to hold checkpoints to deter sellers of illegal drugs from operating in our town,” Ramirez.

A group of residents, barangay and town officials and the parish priest gathered at the barangay Tindog Elementary School for a public hearing.

Ramirez said he spoke with the police chief asking for an increased police visibility in the barangays to discourage illegal drug pushers from peddling in Medellin’s barangays.

“Who would want to sell drugs if the police are always around, if checkpoints are conducted all the time?” said the mayor.

Vice Mayor Juan Alfonso Lim, for his part, challenged the barangay officials to take an active part in solving the problem being the frontliners in their respective communities.

Lim said they never heard anything from the barangay leaders about the problem and called on them to coordinate with the town officials.

Tindog Barangay Captain Laudemer Malinao assured that he has made specific steps in countering the drug peddlers, even talking to them personally to ask them to stop their illegal business.

Malinao said that they are checking the veracity of every information they get and forward these to the police although sometimes they have doubts whether they have given the vital information to the correct person, whether he is an ally in this illegal drugs or otherwise.

Rev. Fr. Teotimo A. Pepito Jr. of the Assumption Parish in Tindog called on all residents to be vigilant and to help the authorities. For the parish priest, the illegal drugs problem needs for all sectors of the society to have a united front.

“Let’s not wait for the officials to take action, let’s not put all the responsibility and blame on them. This is a problem confronting us all, so let’s all do our share to help, each one of us,” said Fr. Pepito. (FREEMAN)