Government winning war with “1-2-3 Punch”
WAR VS. ILLEGAL DRUGS
THE government now seems to be winning the war against illegal drugs in Pangasinan.
The police are arresting an average of nine drug pushers a day after targeting 10 major drug personalities in each town of the 48 towns and 4 cities.
This was disclosed by P/Supt. Ferdinand de Asis, spokesman of the Pangasinan Provincial Police Office, although there were days that up to 15 drug pushers were arrested in buy-bust operations.
The arrest of drug personalities is included in the “1-2-3 Punch” program outlined by P/Senior Supt. Rolly Saltat, newly assigned OIC at the Pangasinan police when he called on Gov. Amado Espino Jr.
The “1-2-3 Punch” program includes the protection of families against crime, protection of families against illegal drugs and the campaign to stump out misfits in police uniform.
The governor ordered Saltat to hit hard on illegal drugs and aim to make Pangasinan drug free.
De Asis told the KBP Forum that noteworthy in the campaign is the fact that the conviction rate by the courts of persons charged for violation Republic Act 9165 or the anti-illegal drugs act is now at a high 80 percent.
This high conviction rate of drug pushers was also noted by Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Pangasinan chapter, said De Asis.
The IBP chapter praised the police and the prosecutors for their performance in the cases filed in court against persons involved in illegal drugs.
De Asis explained that the campaign has shifted to high gear after each police station listed the drug personalities in every municipality and each police station has been ordered to prioritize the arrest of top 10 drug personalities.
He added the PPPO is keenly monitoring police investigators testifying in cases of illegal drugs. “If they fail to attend and testify, they will be placed under pre-charge investigation,” he intoned.
To ensure a successful police operations, the operatives are required to prepare their Case Operational Plan or COPlan before they apply for a search warrants on illegal drug personalities or conduct buy-bust operations.
He lamented that often the police operatives had to use their own money for buy-bust operations, a situation he said worked against the operatives.
To date, he said, policemen have over a million pesos of their own money that formed part of the evidence in court and therefore, are unable to recover their money for their personal use. (Leonardo Micua)
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