Metro police force bags top awards in drive vs illegal drugs

The National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) has bagged three major awards for its relentless anti-drug drive in the metropolis last year.

Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay, head of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOT) personally handed and rewarded the NCRPO’s anti drug unit during the flag- raising ceremony yesterday at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.

Out of the four major awards given, the NCRPO bagged the awards for most number of barangays cleared of illegal drugs, and most number of dismantled shabu laboratories and storage facilities.

Aglipay cited NCRPO chief Director Ricardo de Leon and his deputy for operations, Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Tor, for successfully furthering the campaign against the traffic of narcotics in the metropolis by clearing 1,402 drug-affected barangays from the period of June 16, 2003 to May 31, 2004.

The cleared areas represent almost 65 percent of drug-affected barangays in Metro Manila.

De Leon said the NCRPO’s accomplishments against illegal drugs was made possible through close coordination with local government units, members of the Barangay Drug Abuse Committees (BADACs), concerned government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and other civic groups.

"We have never strayed, and will never stray from our commitment to deliver on her Excellency’s promise of taking the war against narcotics to the barangays. We are one with President Arroyo in the belief that an empowered barangay is the most effective antidote to the drug menace," De Leon stressed.

Records shows that the NCRPO conducted a total of 11,702 drug sting operation last year, resulting to the arrest of 8,005 users and 2,077 pushers and the seizure of a total of P1.6 billion worth of illegal drugs, particularly shabu, marijuana and ecstasy.

From street level narcotics peddlers, the NCRPO anti-drug unit worked its way up to neutralize 87 local drug syndicates out of 141 existing groups which led to the neutralization of five transnational drug groups responsible for the sale and manufacture of shabu in the country.

De Leon cited members of the community for fully supporting the campaign against illegal drugs and gave assurance that the NCRPO will not rest on its laurels towardsthe ultimate goal of achieving a drug-free Philippines by 2010.