Illegal drugs Cebu identified only as transit point

CEBU, Philippines - The director of the regional police office has belied a recent disclosure that Cebu is one of the top provinces in the Philippines where illegal drugs business thrives.

PRO-7 Director Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino said Cebu has been identified as a transit point for drugs and not necessarily a haven for the trade.

Constantino made the clarification  following a statement  of  the  Philippine Drug  Enforcement  Agency-7 officer-in-charge Esperidion Javier that Cebu is number one in the illegal drug trade in the Visayas followed by Bohol and Negros.

But Constantino said this was not the disclosure during the recent meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council in Bohol. Javier was also part of the meeting.

“Hindi naman ganon ang pagkakasabi niya pero para sabihin na one of the top provinces for illegal drug business, hindi naman siguro. Ang source ng mga illegal drugs dito ay galing sa Luzon and Mindanao. Transshipment point ang Cebu then from here to other places,” Constantino said.

He said Javier may have his reasons for making the statement, considering that the drugs problem is still a major concern.

For example, efforts are strengthened at the barangay level, especially those located in coastal areas, to curb the transport of drugs through sea. What’s happening now, Constantino said, is that drug couriers reportedly utilize fishermen and their boats to ship supplies Cebu. This way, they can avoid ports and, in effect, avoid authorities.

Residents in the barangays have also been tapped to help keep an eye on suspicious activities.

“It’s a holistic approach by the PDEA to go down to the barangay level,” Constantino said.

Constantino said that while PDEA remains as the lead agency in the campaign against illegal drugs particularly for high-value targets, the PNP’s efforts are geared toward street-level drug pushing.

The PNP is also on standby should PDEA need support for its operations, but Constantino emphasized that the PNP itself lacks manpower – only one policeman for 900 civilians.

“Undermanned ang PDEA pero meron ding issue sa lack of personnel ang PNP. But if they need our assistance; that is the time we detail our personnel. Ang nangyayari na ngayon ay joint operations na sa PNP and PDEA,” he explained. —/JMO (FREEMAN)