Anti-drug campaign in Makati gaining ground

The Makati Anti Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) recently arrested 13 suspects engaged in the use of illegal drugs. The operation was part of its continuous anti-illegal drug campaign in the city.

In a report to Vice Mayor and MADAC chair Ernesto Mercado, MADAC chief of operations Antonio Montojo said that Cluster 1 operatives, in cooperation with Bantay-Bayan personnel of Barangays Bel-Air and Urdaneta, conducted series of operations in the city’s central business district that resulted in the apprehension of 23 persons.

Of those arrested, 13 were nabbed for sniffing solvents. The other 10 were apprehended for vagrancy.

Montojo said MADAC turned over five of the 13 suspects to PNP-CUREDD (Center for the Ultimate Rehabilitation of Drug Dependents) after testing positive for shabu and marijuana. The rest, which included street children, were turned over to the Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD).

A month ago, Makati also scored against illegal drugs with the arrest of 21 suspected drug users and pushers during separate buy-bust operations.

Evidence recovered included 15.05 grams of shabu and 1.65 grams of marijuana.

Montojo said a total of 35 cases have been filed against the suspects, some of whom were charged with multiple violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

According to its annual accomplishment, MADAC conducted 511 operations resulting in 199 apprehensions and 301 cases filed last year.

Makati’s drive against illegal drugs has been cited several times by different government and non-government agencies as a best practice and ideal model for other local government units to emulate.