Execs on hotspot tag: Specify locations

CEBU, Philippines — To put the tag in proper context, the Philippine National Police should specify which areas in Cebu continue to struggle in the fight against illegal drugs.

This is the contention of Cebu City Councilor Sisinio Andales following the statement of PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde that Cebu remains a hotspot.

Albayalde was echoing a previous statement of President Rodrigo Duterte who contended that Cebu is still a hotspot for illegal drugs because of the amount of drugs confiscated during police operations here.

Andales believes, however, that the statement is too sweeping.

“It is a sweeping statement that Cebu is still a drug hotspot albeit Cebu has nine cities and three highly urbanized cities… I cannot question the basis of the statement, however, he should specify which cities or municipalities of Cebu Province (is a drug hotspot),” Andales said.

He said that as far as Cebu City is concerned, Mayor Tomas Osmeña is offering monetary reward to policemen who can capture drug lords. The city is also cleaning its ranks through drug tests among its workers. Those who are found positive of using illegal drugs are terminated from service.

Another Cebu City Councilor, Pastor Alcover, also said the police should work harder to catch the big fish.

“If big time drug lords are free, what can you expect? They should stop shabu from the source,” he told The FREEMAN.

Councilor Jose Daluz III agrees that illegal drugs remain a serious problem here and that local leaders must be in the frontline in the fight.

“They should lead in the fight. I believe if the mayors and the governor are serious in eliminating the drug menace, Cebu would not be a hotspot,” Daluz said.  Councilor Joel Garganera pointed that local government units should rally behind law enforcement agencies.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella agrees.

“Under the stewardship of officials from PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) and the police, all concerned and peace loving Cebu City residents must get involved in this no nonsense fight against the drug menace. The BADAC (Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council) must be organized in all the barangays so that the fight would reach down to the grassroots level. The school, church and the civic groups must pursue a relentless effort to educate the young on the ill-effects of the use of illegal drugs,” Labella said.

Fe Barino, president of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on the Laity, supports Labella’s statement on the role of education in the fight against illegal drugs.

 She urged the newly elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officers to implement programs geared toward educating the public on the ill effects of using illegal drugs.  And educating the young can be key, she said, so that they will grow fighting the menace that has destroyed families – even lives.

Provincial Police Director, Senior Supt. Manuel Abrugena, agrees with the value of educating the young, saying it is also one of the focus areas of the PNP’s drug war. He also emphasized the need for support from local government units.

“The PNP cannot stand alone in this fight. Kailangan ang tulong ng local government unit, community at stakeholders. Kung wala ang unity ay definitely ay hindi natin maipanalo ang laban na ito sa illegal drugs kaya laking pasasalamat ko sa LGU at community,” Abrugena said.

He, nevertheless, agrees with Albayalde that Cebu remains to be a hotspot.

“With the amount of drugs and numbers of individuals being arrested, I concur with the assessment of the chief PNP,” Abrugena said.

Right Direction

Abrugena remains optimistic that the war is heading in the right direction.

“We are winning this war. Napakalaki na ng pagbabago. Based doon sa mga nakakausap kong mga civilians, naramdaman nila at nakikita nila ang malaking pagbabago mula sa pag-assume ng ating presidente (Duterte),” he said.

While arrests of drug suspects and confiscation of illegal drugs seem to be endless, at least 185 barangays in Cebu province have been declared drug-free by the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO).

For PDEA, the work continues.

“There is no let-up in our anti-illegal drug operations and the implementation of the Barangay Drug Clearing Program, which is among the priority programs of the government,” said PDEA-7 Director Emerson Margate.  Aside from being the main agency waging the drug war, PDEA also oversees the application of local government units for a ‘drug free’ declaration.

“All of which are under continuous monitoring to ensure that they maintain their "drug cleared" status,” he said of the 185 barangays.  Like the PNP chief, Margate believes much is yet to be done.

“There is still much to be done, and with the strong and unfaltering support of our partner agencies and other stakeholders, especially the public, we aim to help more barangays be drug cleared in the coming months,” he said. — JMO (FREEMAN)