11 towns, cities areas of concern for drugs

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Intelligence Branch has considered the towns and component cities in Metro Cebu, including Toledo City, as areas of concern in terms of illegal drug problem.

PIB chief, Supt. Rodulfo Albotra Jr., said the cities of Talisay, Naga, Carcar, Toledo, Bogo, and Danao and the towns of Minglanilla, San Fernando, Consolacion, Liloan, and Compostela passed the parameters to be considered areas of concern.

Albotra said the primary considerations before an area is classified as such is the huge number of population, progressive, strategically located and ideal for transshipment, and most of the suspected drug pushers under the police target list come from there.

“Apil na ang drug pushers kay ma-determine man nato ana ang degree of drug affectations sa area, kung daghan ang drug personalities dunay possibility nga daghan ang affected but as to percentage dili pa ta kahatag ana,” Albotra told The FREEMAN.

Albotra said that most of their anti-drug operations were conducted in these towns and cities. The PIB arrested on Friday two suspected drug pushers in Barangay Liburon, Carcar City.

The police seized P312,700 worth of illegal drugs from Melquiades Amistad and his cohort Darios Canaya. Sr. Insp. Leo Logroño identified Amistad as a level three drug pusher.

“Kusog na siya diha sa Liburon unya ang uban ana nahalin na kay murag napulo na kabulto,” Logroño said, adding that suspects were under surveillance for two weeks before the operation was conducted Friday night.

Early this month, more than P500,000 worth of shabu, drug paraphernalia, and illegal gambling machines were also seized in Barangay Tangke, Talisay City resulting in the arrest of four suspected drug pushers. Marissa Obrero, Gloria Bazar, Rhoda Obrero, and Hazel Daan are now facing charges in court.

Meanwhile, Borbon Police Station now has a new chief following the relief of Insp. Glen Devocion.

Inspector Arvi Arbuis, former deputy chief of Carcar City Police Station, was designated as Devocion’s replacement effective Monday.

Devocion was relieved and was directed to report at the Cebu Provincial Police Office for investigation after a subordinate was arrested visiting a drug den two weeks ago.  — (FREEMAN)