ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. has ordered the strict monitoring of seaports to avert the possible entry of illegal drugs into the province.
These ports are in the towns of Estancia, Dumangas, Carles and Ajuy, in Iloilo City and other provinces in Western Visayas.
In a close-door-meeting held at the Capitol recently, Defensor tasked the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-6 and the Iloilo Provincial Police Office to eliminate illegal drugs in the province after he received information that illegal drugs had already penetrated 10 towns.
The governor refused to name these towns, so as not to jeopardize the ongoing operations, but he said the problem on illegal drugs in the province, albeit not alarming yet, is everybody’s concern.
Defensor also asked the cooperation of the mayors of 41 towns and Passi City, who attended the conference. Barotac Nuevo town Mayor Hernan Biron Sir was not around though as well as Anilao town Mayor Theresa Debuque who only sent a representative in her behalf.
PDEA-6 officer-in-charge Ronnie Delicana, for his part, said the reported illegal drugs in the province are less than 10 percent only but they don’t want to neglect the figure before it will getting worse.
Delicana said the order of the governor for them to eliminate illegal drugs in the province is not far to happen as long as all the mayors especially those towns included on the drug list will cooperate with them.
The officer added the continuing operation of its office has resulted to the rise in the prices of illegal drugs. Prices are rising because the supply is getting scarce due to the anti-drug campaign of their team and teams around the country.
Currently, the street value of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu now range to P 8, 500 per gram while price of marijuana is P 14, 000 per kilo. (FREEMAN)