458 Cavite Barangays now drug-free

Camp Vicente Lim, Laguna, Philippines — Up to 458 barangays in Cavite have been cleared of illegal drug activities, police said.

The figure is 55 percent of the 827 barangays that were previously declared drug-affected, according to Cavite police director Col. Christopher Olazo.

Cavite has 829 barangays. Of the 827 drug-affected villages, 725 were classified as slightly affected, 101 as moderately affected and one as seriously affected.

A barangay is classified as slightly affected if some of its residents are illegal drug users; moderately affected if there are drug traffickers in the area; and seriously affected if there are clandestine drug laboratories, warehouses, marijuana plantations and drug dens.

A barangay can also be classified as seriously affected if there are illegal drug activities as well as drug users, traffickers, financiers, protectors, cultivators and manufacturers.

Sixteen barangays across Cavite have been included under the community mobilization program, while 17 others were declared drug-free by the regional oversight committee from Sept. 20, 2022 to April 20 this year.

Data showed a total of 4,226 anti-drug operations were conducted in the province, which resulted in the arrest of 2,608 since September last year.

“The Cavite police is always ready to assist during the implementation of intervention and rehabilitation programs for drug users,” Olazo said.