PDEA eyes tight watch in coastal brgys

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 will give special attention to coastal barangays in the fight against illegal drugs in Cebu City.

Authorities fear that with the tightened security at official entry points like the airport, syndicates will smuggle their goods in via the coastal barangays.

To kick the campaign off, the meeting of the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council  will be held in Barangay Pasil. Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, himself the chairperson of PCAC, said officials from the barangays will be invited to the meeting to apprise them of the need to be vigilant.

“We want to educate or train our barangay tanods on how to watch and inspect the pump boats coming from different barangays or island provinces,” he said.

Labella said PDEA-7 Director Espirideon Javier disclosed that they themselves were surprised to confiscate big amounts of illegal drugs.

“PDEA was quiet surprised why all these were able to enter the territory of the island of Cebu when our airports are highly secured, we have the sniffing dogs,” Labella said.

Last Monday afternoon, police seized at least 123 small and two medium packets of shabu worth an estimated P100,000 from an alleged drug pusher during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Calamba in Cebu City.

The suspect was identified as Romelito Egona Flores, categorized as a Level 1 drug pusher, said Supt. Romeo Santander, CIB chief. Flores reportedly could dispose of at least 300 grams of shabu in a week.

The operation was carried out after surveillance confirmed Flores’ involvement in the trade. Flores did not resist arrest.

Aside from the illegal drugs, police also recovered P19,000 cash believed to be proceeds from the trade.

The confiscated shabu was taken to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory-7 for chemical analysis.

“Kini dako-dako gyud ni knowing nga dako ug ma-dispose si Flores naay tendency nga maapektuhan gyud ang operasyon sa distribution sa illegal drugs,” Santander said.

Flores is facing charges for violating Section 5 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002. – (FREEMAN)