PROJECT DOUBLE BARREL RELOADED

LINGAYEN—Since Project  Double Barrel Reloaded (DRB) was launched in Pangasinan, the campaign has resulted in the arrest of 73 suspected drug pushers and users, and seizure of 217 sachets of shabu and seven sachets of marijuana from 71 operations conducted by the Pangasinan in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

A report from Chief Inspector Norman Florentino, chief of the police-community relations of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, stated that, as of March 23, the operations conducted in a span of 18 days consisted of the serving of 16  search warrants and 55 buy-bust operations and police responses.

The operations were undertaken by two separate teams. One is the drug enforcement team (composed of selected policemen chosen based on their good records and character) concentrating on high-value targets, returning drug personalities and newly emerged drug personalities and street pushers.

The  other team is in charge of revisiting the houses of drug surrenderers under Oplan Tokhang II, headed by the chief of police or community precinct commander; accompanied by the barangay chairman or any official in the community; and church leader or his representative.

Florentino said when DBR was started, they (police) immediately launched One-Time, Big-Time operation and arrested among them those who surrendered earlier and returned to their illegal activities when the police stopped their anti-drug operations.

At the same time, he clarified said that the police are not focused only in the campaign contra illegal drugs but on cases of murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft, motornapping and rape.

The  police also recently organized a task force to implement Project High Roller that focuses on all illegal gambling activities, namely jueteng, drop ball, mahjong, card games, cara y cruz, “tupada” or “bolarit” and others

Florentino, however, said the police can not yet operate against operations of Meredien Vista Gaming Corporation that operates off-fronton betting stations in towns unless the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued by the court is lifted and the business permit issued by local governments are withdrawn.

This same position echoed the statement of Police Provincial Director Ronald Lee before the KBP forum on March 9. (Leonardo Micua)

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