PDEA clarifies ‘blame’ on entry of shabu

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has not blamed the easing of quarantine restrictions for the entry of shabu in Cebu.

PDEA-7 Director Levi Ortiz made the clarification following an allegation by a radio commentator.

Ortiz said is not what the agency wanted for the public to see as they have continued their anti-illegal drugs operation.

"We want to clarify that we are not 'blaming' the easing of quarantine restrictions for the entry of shabu in the region, particularly in Cebu," said Ortiz in a written statement.

Ortiz believed that easing of restrictions is necessary for the economy to recover from the effect of the pandemic.

However, Ortiz said that illegal activities continued no matter how strict the protocols will be.

The implementation of the community quarantine had lessened the supply of illegal drugs but Ortiz said it was not entirely eradicated.

"Drug personalities will always try to find a way to circumvent the law and our efforts to stop their illegal activities. Even stricter quarantine guidelines did not completely deter unscrupulous individuals from peddling illegal drugs despite the health crisis, as evidenced by successful anti-illegal drug operations conducted even at the height of GCQ in Cebu," said Ortiz.

In a separate interview,Police Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro, director of Police Regional Office (PRO-7), said that the police did not loosen up the anti-illegal drugs campaign.

"There are some sectors that misinterpreted the pronouncement of PDEA-7, we are being blamed, the police,” Ferro said.

He cited a lot of successful anti-illegal drug operations during the pandemic that seized a total of 59 kilos of shabu.

Ferro assured that the police are, first of all, the protectors of the community against illegal drugs and other criminal activities.  — GMR (FREEMAN)