Undermanned drug unit cleaning up Navotas barangays

Despite the lack in personnel and resources, the Navotas police in coordination with barangay leaders, were able to clean up majority of its barangays of illegal drugs.

Of the town’s 14 barangays, only six of them — Barangays Tangos, Daanghari, North Bay Boulevard North, North Bay Boulevard South, Sipac Almacin and San Roque, remained in the watch list under an intensified drug clearing drive.

The local police Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) is composed of only five operatives, headed by Inspector Ferdinand Balgoa.

DEU agent PO3 Jerry Bravo said that in the first quarter of this year, they were able to conduct 42 operations, resulting in the arrest of a total of 68 drug offenders.

Of those arrested, 44 are now facing charges in court.

To boost its capability it fighting the drug menace in their municipality, the DEU recently sought the assistance of Mayor Toby Tiangco for additional financial support.

The DEU office has no vehicle for its operations with agents using their personal cars in the campaign.

The local police station allotted a mere P1,500 for their monthly gasoline allowance to cover the town’s 14 barangays.

The anti-drug operatives are appealing for additional support from the local government and barangay leaders for their effective campaign against illegal drugs.

The DEU are finding it difficult to contain the entry of illegal drugs in their area since drug traffickers use the town’s open waters as their point of entry.