54 Cebu City barangays got until March 15 to give drug list

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has given 54 remaining barangays of Cebu City that have not yet submitted yet their list of identified drug users and pushers in their jurisdictions that they only have until March 15 to do so.

This developed after the Association of Barangay Councils coordinated with the agency in cleaning up the barangays of illegal drug activities.

Of the 80 barangays of Cebu City, only 26 have submitted their list to PDEA, which was tasked to suppress illegal drugs in the community.

These barangays are Sawang Calero, Calamba, Pahina San Nicolas, Sambag II, Suba, Carreta, San Nicolas Proper, Apas, Tinago, Quiot, Pahina Central, Binaliw, Duljo Fatima, Kamputhaw, Pulangbato, Adlaon, Kamagayan, T. Padilla, Lorega San Miguel, Cogon Pardo, Pung-ol Sibugay, Labangon, Tisa, Bonbon, Luz and Poblacion Pardo.

PDEA-7 Director Yogi Felimon Ruiz said they gave the ultimatum so the barangays would take the request seriously

“Para maaksyonan nato kay ang atoang primary focus karon is Cebu City. Atong gukdon ang drug personalities sa barangay diri sa city para masugdan na nato og gukod. Kanus-a pa man og dili ta mohatag og ultimatum? Dili man ta seryosohon, unfair sa ubang barangays nga serious,” he said.

He said that they would take legal action against barangays that fail to submit the list within the given period.  He commended the effort of the ABC and in its cooperation in the anti-illegal drug campaign.

“Mapasalamaton kaayo ko sa effort nga ilahang gihimo.  Kana ang dapat sundon sa ubang ABC, ug…commendable ang ilahang effort,” Ruiz said.

ABC president and Tisa Barangay Captain Phillip Zafra urged the remaining barangays to fast-track the gathering of information on the identified drug personalities in their areas so they can submit their list.

He said he knew that the barangays failed to submit their list because they were still validating the information they have.

“I urge them to do internal cleansing.  Ang mga police nag-cleansing. Nasayod na man ta nga ang tanang hut-ong nasudlan na man gyud aning kagawa og dili exemption ang barangay (officials) niana,” Zapra said.

He said that in Tisa, they created an anti-drug organization called Barangay Advocates for Rehabilitation and Knockout Approach against Drug Abuse and Addiction.

He also asked for the cooperation of the residents by giving them information as to who were the drug personalities in their community and by educating them against joining in illegal activities.

Zapra hoped that with the barangays intensifying the campaign against illegal drugs in the community, a good relationship would be established between barangay captains and PDEA. (FREEMAN)