TACLOBAN CITY – At least 25 people were killed for resisting arrests conducted by police authorities during anti-drug operations across the region from July 1 to Aug. 29, 2016. Of the 25 so-called drug personalities killed covering 215 anti-drug operations, seven of them were in Leyte; four each in Samar, Southern Leyte and Ormoc City and three each in Northern Samar and Tacloban City. In a report to the Regional Development Council’s Development Administration Committee, PNP acting regional director Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar said 261 drug personalities have been arrested in these drug operations. At least 12,526.77 grams of shabu and 42.78 grams of marijuana have been recovered by authorities with total worth of P100.19 million. The police also confiscated 57 long and short firearms. Drug buy-bust, raids, and search led to the filing of 199 cases in courts, Beltejar said. Since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed the presidency, 8,483 houses have been visited by the local police under its “Oplan Tokhang”, which resulted for 16,766 users and 2,122 pushers to surrender or a total of 18,888 surrenderees. Leyte has the most number of self-confessed drug personalities at 5,618; Southern Leyte, 4,490; Eastern Samar, 2,793; Ormoc City, 2,089; Northern Samar, 1,237; Samar, 1,129; Tacloban City, 985; and Biliran, 547. “The sustained anti-illegal drugs under Project: Double Barrel by anti-illegal drugs units had paved way for a more responsive community in combating the drug menace and defacing crime-breeding areas,” Beltejar said. He assured that the PNP in the region will continue their efforts to eradicate illegal drugs. As a result of the increasing number of self-confessed drug personalities, the Department of Health embarks on training local health workers to assist in the rehabilitation process through community-based approach. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO)
