19 more Central Visayas barangays cleared of illegal drugs

CEBU, Philippines — An additional 19 barangays in Central Visayas have been declared drug-cleared, raising to the initial 1,855 barangays that have been earlier cleared in the region.

This was following the deliberation of the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing Program (ROCBDC) at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office-7 in Cebu City on August 21, 2024.

Committee members reviewed the documentary requirements submitted by the additional barangays and determined that all documents were satisfactory.

Of the total number, 12 are from Bohol, four from Negros Oriental, and three from Cebu.

According to the report from PDEA-7, the three barangays in Cebu include Candabong in Dumanjug; Lupa in Compostela; and Inoburan in Naga City.

The 12 barangays from Bohol come from different towns, including four from the municipality of President Carlos P. Garcia: barangays Bogo, Butan, Kabangkalan, and Villa Milagrosa; three from the town of Guindulman: barangays Casbu, Cansiwang, and Guinacot; two from Carmen: barangays Bicao and Barangay La Salvacion; and Barangay Magkaya in Buenavista, Barangay Poblacion in Corella, and Barangay Yanangan in Loay.

The four barangays from Negros Oriental are Brgy. Mandalupang, Manjuyod; Brgy Lamdas, Mabinay; Barangay Balugo, Sibulan; and Barangay Malaunay, Valencia.

Additionally, two barangays in Pamplona, Negros Oriental, managed to maintain their drug-free status – Barangay Fatima and Barangay Inawasan.

The designation of barangays as drug-cleared falls under the Barangay Drug Clearing Program (BDCP) and is in accordance with DDB Regulation No. 4, Series of 2021.

Barangays that achieve drug-cleared and drug-free status are subject to ongoing validation and verification to confirm the continued effectiveness of their anti-drug initiatives and to promptly address any new drug activities or relapses.

There are 3,003 barangays in the region, and the Police Regional Office-7 have earlier expressed optimism that they will achieve their goal to declare all barangays drug-cleared by the end of the year.

PB commendation

The Cebu Provincial Board approved separate resolutions commending two drug-cleared barangays in Balamban town and Talisay City.

Through Resolution No. 0013 series of 2024 and Resolution No. 0028, barangays Sta. Cruz-Sto.Niño in Balamban and San Roque in Talisay, respectively, were declared “drug-cleared” by the ROCBDC-7.

“The entire officialdom of the Cebu Provincial Government is grateful for the success of these endeavors and the unrelenting support of the local government units in the implementation of the Barangay Drug Clearing Program in cities and municipalities down to the barangay levels,” read a portion of both resolutions authored by Provincial Board Member Thadeo Jovito Ouno, who chairs the PB Committee on Public safety, Peace and Order; and Dangerous Drugs Prevention.

“It is the paramount concern of the local government unit to maintain peace and order and to effectively curb the proliferation of dangerous drugs and substance,” it added.

Buybust

Meanwhile, the PNP Drug Enforcement Group Special Operation Unit-7 arrested a shoe seller during a buybust operation in Sitio Tambis Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City at 1:07 a.m. Thursday.

The arrested person was identified as Marcos Igot Ybañez, 52, a resident of Basak Eskwelahan, Barangay Basak City in Lapu-Lapu.

According to Ybañez, apart from being involved in the illegal drug trade last March, he also admits to using illegal drugs.

According to authorities, they have been monitoring the illegal activity of Ybañez for two weeks where they discovered that he could dispose of 50 grams every week around Barangay Duljo Fatima, A.Lopez and Barangay Sambag 2.

During the operation, the authorities confiscated two large packages of alleged shabu weighing 25 grams each and a medium package weighing 5 grams in total weighing 55 grams worth P374,000 and the buybust money.

In a separate joint operation, PDEA-Bohol Provincial Office and Bohol Maritime Police, Bohol Police Provincial Intelligence Unit/Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and Tagbilaran City Police Station caught a high value individual in a buy-bust operation in P- 7, Brgy. Bool, Tagbilaran City, Bohol Province the previous day.

Authorities arrested Alvin Rex, 23, unemployed, living in the Municipality of Baclayon, and was the subject of the operation.

The suspect had with him 15 packs of suspected shabu weighing 75 grams approximately worth P510,000, buy-bust money, cellphone and other non-drug evidence.

Based on information from the case build-up on the suspect prior the operation, he can reportedly dispose a one kilo of drugs per month.

The evidence seized by the police has been submitted to the laboratory for proper disposition.

A case of violation of Section 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165 will be filed against the suspects. — (FREEMAN)