In Negros Oriental, PDEA admits: Lack of men, funds limit anti-drugs drive

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Lack of manpower and financial restrictions have limited the Philippine Drug Enforcement Administration provincial office's anti-illegal drugs operations in Negros Oriental.

PDEA provincial head Ivy Claire Oledan made this disclosure during the first regular meeting of the Peace and Order Council for this year. In her report, read by Hector Avenido, she said these major setbacks were the causes of the agency's low accomplishments from October to December last year.

Oledan's report disclosed that, during the period, PDEA conducted one buy-bust operation, one test buy, one service of warrant, four surveillance and casing operations on high value targets and big-time illegal drugs personalities, which resulted in the seizure of 2.5 grams of shabu and 0.54 grams of marijuana.

The local PDEA, however, continued to tie up and work with other law enforcement agencies in the province as financial constraints limit their budget for operations, intelligence and administrative functions.

PDEA's biggest challenge in addressing the illegal drugs problem in Negros Oriental is the province's  geographical location. The province is situated directly between Mindanao and Cebu, described as major retailers and markets for illegal drugs as well as gateways to other points of the country, "making it strategic for transshipment of illegal contrabands," the PDEA report said.

The vast shorelines of Negros Oriental are accessible to motorized boats at any time of the day, and that security is zero in these areas, allowing illegal drugs to pass through unnoticed to the intended recipients.

Suppliers of shabu in Negros Oriental are mostly from Manila, Cebu and Mindanao and being transported via the Roll On, Roll Off (RO-RO) ports, said the PDEA report.

Meanwhile, a drug bust conducted in Ayungon town of Negros Oriental Monday has resulted in the arrest of two suspected drug pushers and the confiscation of P25,000 worth of shabu, firearms and ammunitions, a Toyota car and drug paraphernalia.

The two arrested suspects were identified as Virgil Gonzales and Rex Torres, both workers of a certain Jowett Nusan, who fled before the operatives could apprehend him in the buy- bust operation inside the compound of his house.

The suspects are now detained for illegal drugs charges and for illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions.

The buy-bust team was composed of operatives of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Group, headed by Insp. Ryan Jay Orapa, the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office, headed by Supt. Alet Virtucio, and the National Bureau of Investigation provincial office, headed by Dominador Cimafranca. (FREEMAN)