Makati presses with anti-drug operations

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government is pressing on with its anti-drug operations through the Makati Anti Drug Abuse Council (MADAC).

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay who serves as MADAC chairman, said the council and its police partner, the Station Anti Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (SAIDSOTG) will be relentless in hunting down and prosecuting drug peddlers in the city.

Last July 25, two drug peddlers were sentenced to life imprisonment by Presiding Judge Edgardo Caldona of Branch 65 of the Makati Regional Trial Court.

Convicted were Rochelyn Velasco, of Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo and Roderick Paraiso, of Barangay Cembo. Velasco was also made to pay a P500,000 fine while Paraiso was made to pay P800,000.

"My administration will continuously work to eventually achieve our vision of a drug-free Makati," said Binay.

"To attain this end, MADAC operatives, together with agents of the Makati Police SAIDSOTG, are conducting operations and intelligence gathering day and night so that the city can get rid of undesirable elements in society who are out to destroy the lives of the people, and the future of our youth,” Binay added.

Binay also commended MADAC Operations Chief Jaime Santos for constantly collaborating with barangay officials for information and other strategic needs for the campaign. He noted that barangay officials in both districts of Makati have been active in the campaign to eradicate drug use, distribution and peddling of illegal drugs.

Recently, Barangay San Antonio chair Rosario Go endorsed a group of students from a public high school within her jurisdiction to MADAC on suspicion of drug use. Subsequent investigation conducted by MADAC pointed to alleged drug peddlers Joeno dela Paz and Ian Roel of Brgy. Tejeros as the suppliers of prohibited substances.

The ensuing buy-bust operation conducted by the MADAC Operations Section and MCO-SAIDSOTG yielded bricks of marijuana and other paraphernalia. The suspects were properly turned over to the prosecutor’s office for inquest for violation of Sections 5 and 11 of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Drugs Act.

From May 2012 to May 2013, MADAC had arrested 175 users, pushers and pushers-users, and assisted/referred 104 drug dependents to rehabilitation centers such as the Department of Health Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DOH-TRC) in Bicutan; Central Luzon Rehabilitation Center in Magalang, Pampanga; or Department of Health – Treatment and Rehabilitation, Tagaytay (DOH—TRC Tagaytay).