Town dangles reward for drug tipsters

CEBU, Philippines — Daanbantayan is taking steps in fortifying the crackdown on illegal drugs in the effort to attain a drug-free status, its chief executive said.

Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura said he will be coordinating with the Municipality Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) and the police to come up with an ordinance offering incentives for anyone who can provide information helpful to the municipality’s crackdown on illegal drugs.

Although they have yet to decide on the reward amount, Shimura is hopeful that this will serve as a motivation for residents to take an active role in eliminating the menace in the municipality.

“After a successful operation, we will be giving the tipster a reward. We will be crafting an ordinance through our MADAC chairperson, Hon. Elver Abucay,” Shimura said.

Shimura said Daanbantayan will also be training K-9 dogs to aid in the anti-drug operations with the help of the Police Regional Office-7.

“Nagkuha ko ron ug (I am in the process of acquiring) beagles. They are very good sniff dogs,” Shimura said.

The mayor said these new initiatives are in line with Daanbantayan’s aim to apply for a drug-free municipality status by next year.

Although 21 of the barangays have already been declared cleared of illegal drugs, nine of which cleared this year alone, Shimura said he will not be applying for a drug-free status unless he is completely sure about it.

“PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) told us nga pwede na mi mo-apply for a drug-free municipality but I told them ayaw sa. I don’t want it to be a joke. We wanted na kung mo-apply mi, it will be done in truthfulness,” Shimura said.

Taking a holistic approach, Shimura said his administration will also continue to work on the rehabilitation program for drug surrenderers, which currently number around 500.

Shimura said he is working with the Daanbantayan Municipality Environment and Natural Resource Office and the Municipal Agriculture Office in framing a livelihood program for the former drug addicts.

“We want to give them a safety net… para naa silay padulngan sa ilang pagsurrender as drug users,” he said. (FREEMAN)