Drug demand to rise with holiday season

CEBU, Philippines — Tis the season to be jolly, but police suspect many will also become high.

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) expects the entry and distribution of more illegal drugs as the holiday season approaches, based on the monitoring of the police intelligence community.

CCPO Deputy City Director for Operations, Police Lieutenant Colonel Randy Korret, said that based on their previous operations and arrests with regards to illegal drugs in Cebu City, some of the drugs has arrived in Cebu.

Korret believes that the entry of the drug supply from the capital region passed through the neighboring regions, which is often the result of their drug operations here in Cebu. Korret suspected that this is because Christmas is approaching and people are getting bonuses, which some use to buy drugs.

According to the police, intelligence monitoring especially in the entry and exit points of the city, were intensified. The authorities are also eyeing private ports as these could be the possible gateway of the entry of illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, Police Colonel Geovanie Maines, officer-in-charge of CCPO, said that they have already assigned their deployment to ensure the security for the Christmas celebration, especially in areas where there are night activities going on.

Maines also said that 50 additional personnel were sent to augment the security assigned to those areas.

Moreover, on the possible use of firecrackers during the holiday season, Maines said that they are just waiting for the directives from the national headquarters with regards to the ban on firecrackers.

According to Maines, after they will receive the memorandum from Camp Crame on which firecrackers will be allowed, they will immediately start their information drive.

“Kasi baka may mga bago na susulpot na bawal na explosive.” Maines said, emphasizing that the banning of some firecrackers was implemented during the previous holidays.

Furthermore, Maines said that they expect to receive the said directive tomorrow.  BRP (FREEMAN)