TACLOBAN CITY – The top officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the region have called on barangay officials to assist in combating the illegal drug problem at the grassroots level.
PB/Gen Reynaldo Pawid and Atty. Jacquelyn de Guzman both emphasized that the involvement of barangay officials in the fight against illegal drugs is crucial to achieving the government’s goal of eradicating the drug trade in the country.
“Our barangays should be fully functional in terms of their Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC), which every barangay is required to have,” Pawid stated.
“If the BADACs are functional, I believe it will significantly reduce the problem of supply and demand because they are the elected officials who know who in their barangays are using and selling illegal drugs,” he added.
The creation of BADAC is mandated under Republic Act 9165, the Local Government Code of the Philippines, and the Dangerous Drugs Board.
These councils play a key role in preventing and eradicating illegal drugs by leading the planning, implementation, and monitoring of local anti-drug programs, projects, and activities within their communities.
According to data from the Police Regional Office-8, anti-illegal drug operations from June 2022 to July 2024 resulted in the confiscation of 25,681.72 grams of shabu, 12,464.63 grams of marijuana, and 21,105 grams of cocaine, with a total street value of P308 million.
During this period, 163 drug personalities surrendered, 26 were killed in anti-drug operations, 1,584 were arrested, and 3,388 cases were filed in court for violating Republic Act 9165.
PDEA-8 Regional Director De Guzman also urged barangay officials to assist in the campaign to reduce both the demand for and supply of illegal drugs, emphasizing that they are aware of who is involved in illegal activities within their communities.
De Guzman noted that from June 2022 to July 2024, PDEA-8 apprehended 2,713 drug personalities.
“Most of those we apprehend are high-value targets. Sadly, it’s disheartening to report that some of those arrested are government employees, including job order workers or barangay officials,” she explained.
“That is why it is crucial that we take action at the barangay level,” she added.
The PDEA-8 official also urged barangay officials to remain alert and vigilant, and report to authorities if they encounter packages that may contain illegal drugs.
She pointed out that due to Eastern Visayas’ strategic location, it is often used as a transshipment point for illegal drugs transported to Mindanao and Luzon.
In January last year, more than nine kilos of shabu were recovered at Jugaban Port in Allen, Northern Samar.
On August 8, another nine kilos of shabu were seized by authorities at the FastCat Ferry terminal in Barangay Kinabranan, also in Allen.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
