THERE will be no let-up in the war against illegal drugs.

This was reiterated by P/ Colonel Redrico A. Maranan, police provincial director, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH as he confirmed that the continuing war against illegal drugs in the province has resulted in the arrest 36 suspects (7 pusher and 29 users) over a 10-day period.

He said that the arrests effected by joint operatives of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Pangasinan Police, were done during 39 police operations, 24 of which were from buy-bust operations while 10 from the serving of search warrants, conducted from July 14 until July 24.

The anti-drug operations recovered 108 sachets of shabu with a total weight of 32.0452 grams and eleven sachets of marijuana with a weight of 6.941 grams.

To further intensify its campaign, the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office has been conducting surprise random drug testing in all police stations. To date, Maranan said close to 1,000 police personnel have already been subjected to drug tests.

Meanwhile, Maranan expressed his support for the plan of the Dagupan City government to conduct random drug tests among city hall employees and recommended that all government offices and private companies should make drug test as a pre-requisite for employment. 

He also intends to implement a plan subjecting  senior high school students to random drug tests after validating reports that a number are already actively engaged in selling and using illegal drugs.

To address the reported growing number of users among high school students deemed vulnerable targets of drug syndicates, the Pangasinan Police is reinforcing its Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program by regularly visiting to public schools and delivering lectures on the ill effects of prohibited drugs.

To address the drug-use problem among the out-of-school youths, the Pangasinan Police, in collaboration with the Barangay Officials, hold Pulong-pulong sa Barangay.

Meanwhile, Maranan bared his plan to establish a Barangay Drug Rehabilitation Desk initially in 240 drug-affected barangays as a new strategy of the PDEA-PNP campaign for the Barangay Drug Clearing Program.

He said the rehabilitation desks will receive drug personalities without criminal cases who wish to receive help and express willingness to undergo rehabilitation through community-based drug rehabilitation program.

Those with pending cases will be processed in courts.  (Nora Dominguez) 

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