Mayor confirms drug use rampant in Panglao town

PANGLAO, BOHOL, Philippines – Rampant use of the prohibited drugs in this premier tourist island-town, just across the narrow channel of Tagbilaran City, has been confirmed by Mayor Benedicto Alcala even as police officers reportedly denied it.

Alcala, in an interview with The Freeman yesterday, categorically said all indicators pointed to widespread and uncontrolled drug abuse, but he vowed that he will not take this menace sitting down.

“This social ill might be the price of having a booming tourism,” he said, adding that the fight of drug abuse is everybody’s concern, not only of the town’s officials.

There were reports reaching The Freeman however that the Panglao Police, led by Insp. Cesar Acompaniado, denied allegations that drugs use in this town has been rampant. He was quoted as saying that there is no truth to the reports, spread only in “text” messages and reaching the media. 

Acompaniado however confirmed that his office has already identified some suspects in drugs peddling here, and that he and his men were never remiss in their duty to stamp out drug abuse.

According to Alcala, one of the telltale signs of rampant drug use was the gruesome murder and rape last weekend of a cashier by a security guard who surrendered to the police the day after the incident.

The security guard, who similarly worked with the victim in the same resort in Panglao, admitted using shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) in two sessions before the crime.

Alcala also said that some tourists, men and women alike at beach resorts, looked like already “sabog” or “doped” during night time.

There were reports also reaching the mayor from boat transport operators about shipment of illegal drugs peddled in coastal areas, particularly along the beach stretch of some resorts. “It is not farfetched that these resorts could be the entry point of drugs, but this has to be verified,” he said.

Sources of these illegal substances included a known drug peddler from Inabanga town and another that have been supplying most of the western part of the island, both of whom the mayor did not yet identify.

Based on information he received, Alcala said these suppliers have slowed down, for the meantime, apparently due to massive crackdown.

Alcala said that some policemen of his town could be protectors or in cahoots with the illegal drug pushers, but two of the alleged police-drug protectors, whom he did not name also, were already relieved and transferred to other places.

The mayor has resolved to do everything he could to eliminate the illegal drugs in his town, saying that if he would not do this now, the future of the children would be jeopardized.

He also said that, if illegal drugs proliferate and remain uncontrolled, peace and order would be in chaos, and as such there would be no development here because investors would not dare to do business here.

A massive information campaign among school children has been carried out against use of illegal drugs, and Alcala urged the parents to do their share in this effort. (FREEMAN)