Lapu-Lapu aims more drug-cleared barangay

CEBU, Philippines — The Lapu-Lapu City government is eyeing additional barangays to be drug-cleared by mid-2024, but not without careful scrutiny.

Lapu-Lapu has the lowest number of drug-cleared barangays among the three highly-urbanized cities of Cebu. But City of Lapu-Lapu Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (CLOSAP) Executive Director Garry Lao said it is because they are “very meticulous” in making sure that barangays are compliant with the provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Board on the parameters for drug clearing.

Currently, Lapu-Lapu City has eight drug-cleared barangays and one drug-free barangay out of the 30 barangays.

Mandaue City has 13 out of 27 barangays declared as drug-cleared while Cebu City has 25 out of 80 barangays.

“The city is serious on the drug-clearing program because non-compliance with the drug-clearing program will also affect the functionality and effectiveness of the local ADACs,” said Lao while citing the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2018-01 set by the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Dangerous Drug Board.

Lao added that they don’t want to rush things only to find out later that some drug addicts in the barangay are back to their vices again.

“Di mi gusto magdali-dali para lang ingnon, unya later on, makakita ka, namalik ra pud silag drugs-drugs,” Lao said.

The lone drug-free barangay in the city is Caohagan since 2019, while drug-cleared are Subabasbas, Tingo, Sabang, Caw-oy, Baring, Tungasan, Santa Rosa and San Vicente.

Caw-oy, Baring, and Tungasan were declared as drug-cleared in 2021 while Subabasbas, Tingo and Sabang were all cleared in 2022 while the two others last December 2023.

Three candidates for drug clearing are barangays Pangan-an, Kalawisan and Caubian.

A drug-cleared barangay refers to a barangay that is previously classified as drug-affected and underwent a barangay drug clearing program. It has to be then declared as drug-cleared by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC).

On the other hand, a drug-free barangay is an unaffected barangay that has been vetted and confirmed by ROCBDC as defined by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Lao said those left to be cleared still have drug personalities to be rehabilitated or yet to graduate from the community-based rehabilitation program.

Lao also added that aside from eyeing more drug-cleared barangays, they are also trying to maintain its highly-functional Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) status, which they have done for three straight years.

A highly functional ADAC is one of the indicators needed by an LGU to achieve a Seal of Good Local Governance.

Buybust  operation

Meanwhile, P3.5 million worth of shabu was seized from a former prisoner who was a habal-habal driver in a buybust operation of the Mabolo Police Station 4 in Lower Peace Valley, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City past 11 p.m on May 16, 2024.

Edgardo Ordeñeza Gabini alias ‘Dodot’, 27, and a resident of the said area, was arrested after police monitored his activities following reports of his involvement in illegal drugs.

Police Major Romeo Caacoy Jr. said Gabini has been in and out of prison due to drugs.

During the operation, the authorities confiscated from Gabini the package of suspected shabu weighing 520 grams worth more than P3.5 million, buybust money and P1500 money believed to be proceeds of illegal drugs.

Caacoy said that Gabini can reportedly dispose of 500 grams of shabu per week. He allegedly operates within Cebu City and around the Province of Cebu.

The suspect is currently held in the custodial facility of the Mabolo Police Station and will face charges of violation of Sec 5 SEC 11 ART 2 RA 9165. (CEBU NEWS)