Only 2 of 138 Tacloban brgys not affected by illegal drugs

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – The city police director, Senior Supt. Domingo Cabillan confirmed that only two—Barangay Paglaum in northern part and Barangay 13 in downtown area—out of 138 barangays in this city are not affected by the proliferation of shabu and marijuana.

Cabillan, however, said that despite the drug menace in almost all barangays of Tacloban, the good news was that at least 17 high-target drug personalities in the police watchlist were already arrested in a series of buy-bust operations.

The busts, conducted through search warrants, also nabbed the son of prominent family and known political figure in the city. He was finally brought into the drug facility after posting bail late last year, Cabillan said.

Five policemen were also arrested by a special unit of anti-illegal drug task force during their operations which, according to Cabillan, only showed the public that the police have been fair and strict in enforcing the law, whoever the subject may be.

“This campaign against illegal drugs needs full cooperation and support from the public. I am looking forward to work with them hand in hand in our war against illegal drug trade in Tacloban,” Cabillan said.

The situation of continued proliferation of illegal drugs in the city had also alarmed Palo Archbishop John Du who, during his recent visit to a jail in the city, found that at least 75 percent of the inmates there were facing cases of illegal drugs.

Du said he was also surprised that one of the parishioners who was slated to be a fiesta mass sponsor was among those jailed.

He called on authorities to stop the alarming drug problem in the city, in the same way he called on the participation and support of all sectors in the fight against the proliferation of this problem. (FREEMAN)