Task force formed vs high crimes

CEBU, Philippines —  The Bureau of Customs Port of Cebu and several other government and non-government agencies recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Cebu Provincial Government creating One Cebu–Inter-Agency Interdiction Task Force (OC-IAITF).

The OC-IAITF is the Provincial Government of Cebu’s unified, localized initiative to fight illegal drugs, smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorism in Cebu.

BOC-Cebu District Collector Elvira Cruz commended Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia’s earnest efforts to form a task force, inviting the concerned agencies to sit down and together, make concerted actions to address and bring down these high crimes.

“It really takes the whole community to fight the unscrupulous individuals and their network if we want to stop them,” said Cruz in their Facebook page.

The task force, which is headed by the Province of Cebu, is composed of enforcement agencies and non-government organizations, with two groups to monitor the airport and seaports.

While continuing the performance of their mandates, each member-agency shall have a close working relationship with the task force by providing active support through law enforcement operations, detail of personnel, and timely exchange of relevant information, the MOA reads.

For its part, the BOC Port of Cebu committed to immediately act upon derogatory information raised by the OC-IAITF against international packages/cargoes for the purpose of conducting joint physical examination.

Aligned with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and under the leadership of Commissioner Yogi Filemon L. Ruiz, the BOC Port of Cebu fully commits to strengthening its border protection measures including anti-drug interdiction efforts through intensified coordination with partner government agencies and stakeholders.

“Dinhi sa atong pinalanggang Sugbo, ipakita nato that this is the way to go. Only by calling on and joining hands with all good men and women, with their respective mandates of their respective s government agencies in a unified, collaborative effort, we can truly make a huge difference against this fight and war. In a most holistic approach, we will conquer this menace,” said Garcia, in her speech during the signing ceremony.

As posted in the Facebook page of Sugbo News, the official FB page of the provincial government, the governor said the creation of OC-IAITF was the first of its kind drug campaign collaboration in the Philippines, where several agencies have come together in a localized anti-drug battle.

The governor has been relentless in her intent to make Cebu drug-free, will function as head of the task force. A command center will soon be put up at the Capitol for the group.

“We will make it very, very hard for these drug suppliers to make Cebu their marketplace. Over here in Cebu, we don’t do things for photo-ops or press releases. That (MOA signing) is just a symbolic gesture. Now, watch us translate the terms of that MOA into action – buhat ang pasultion,” the governor added.

Other signatories of the MOA include the Police Regional Office-7, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7, Cebu Port Authority, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, Maritime Industry Authority-7, National Bureau of Investigation-7, Bureau of Immigration, Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu Province and Cebu City Chapters, and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

The first phase of the task force’s integrated anti-drug campaign involves the reduction of supply of illegal drugs coming to Cebu Island.

The group’s goal will also soon target drug operations within the province and the prosecution of drug cases. — GMR (FREEMAN)