PDEA-7 eyes more “drug-free” barangays

CEBU, Philippines - Though there are already several barangays recently declared as “drug-free,” the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 is looking at the possibility of declaring another set of barangays in Cebu City and under Cebu province.

PDEA-7 Director Yogi Ruiz told reporters yesterday that the agency’s required 14 parameters should have been fulfilled: a barangay should have no drug pushers or peddlers, no drug users, no drug dens or laboratories.

“Yes we are planning on that but kinahanglan ilaha usa i-comply ang 14-parameters. We are very strict on that as the chairman of the oversight committee ato gyud nag striktuhon ang compliance sa 14 parameters kung di sila ka-comply, dili gyud  namo i-declare,”  Ruiz said.

He said he is not bothered if the barangays are slow in complying with their requirements since they want a thorough process of drug-clearing operations.

“Wa man ta mag-apas og kanang paspasay. Ang atoa lang it should be thorough and everything should be checked nga dapat 100 percent compliance. But it does not mean nga declared na sila as drug, free, drug-cleared, it does not mean mopahulay na sila,” Ruiz said.

He said that once drug personalities are found in their jurisdiction after the barangay was supposedly declared as drug-free, barangay officials will be given 30 days to explain and to conduct intervention activities for those people.

If the barangay officials fail to do so, Ruiz, said a complaint may be filed against them.

A total of 120 of 128 barangays recommended by local executives had been declared drug-free after the reinforcement of all anti-illegal drug operations based, on the parameters stated in the Dangerous Drug Board Regulation 3 Series of 2017.

They were from the towns of Sibonga, Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Santander, Samboan, Balamban, Tabogon, San Remigio, Tabuelan, Borbon, Catmon, Sogod, San Francisco, Poro, Tudela, Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal and Ginatilan. The barangays received a certificate from the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) oversight committee.

The Municipality of Poro led the towns with 17 of its barangays and an estimated 25,000 of its total population considered as “drug-cleared”.

Poro Police Chief Jade Sumugat said community-based programs, through the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council, have helped in the achievement.

He said the sense of belongingness to the community has been one of the greatest factors in encouraging surrenderers not to go back to their old vices.

Governor Hilario Davide III, for his part, challenged all recognized barangays to maintain their drug-cleared status and urged everyone to actively participate in establishing a sustainable support system for surrenderers.

“The responsibility is to maintain the status. It’s a challenge to barangays also to the mayors. Dili lalim i-maintain ni ang status sa paka-drug-free,” he said.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Eric Noble, on the other hand, said they had been doing their part.

Meanwhile, CPADAO Chief Carmen Remedios Durano Meca reminded that the “drug-free” certificate issued to the recognized barangays in the province can be revoked.

She said the oversight committee, composed of the director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency as chairman; and the director of the Department of Interior and Local Government-7 as vice chairman; and representatives of local government units of Cebu; the governor; the director of the Department of Health-7; and the director of the Police Regional Office-7 as members, would check if the barangays have continued to follow the 14 parameters.

She said the certification given to a particular barangay could be revoked if a drug surrenderer within their jurisdiction tests positive during a surprise drug test.

Meca said the barangay will be given 30 days to act or institute an intervention for the drug surrenderer if it does not its certification withdrawn. —/ RHM (FREEMAN)