In droga’s shadow

THE provincial police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) are in close coordination, as they have always been, for efforts to curb the illegal drug problem in Pangasinan. However, they seem to be in disagreement recently as to how extensive the droga problem is in the province.

The PDEA reports that Pangasinan is among the top 10 provinces in the country that serve as a source for narcotics. On the other hand, the provincial police, headed by Senior Superintendent Rosueto Ricaforte, assert that is unlikely because there are no identified drug laboratories in Pangasinan and that police operations are continuing to arrest illegal drug dealers, albeit the big-time drug lords continue to elude authorities.

One thing the PDEA claims that Ricaforte does confirm is that the urban areas, particularly the four cities in the province — Alaminos, Dagupan, San Carlos and Urdaneta — serve as the major dealing points for illegal drugs. Dagupan, the main commercial center in Pangasinan, tops the list.

Dagupan recognizes this as well. Just two weeks ago, the Dagupan government announced that it is setting up a multi-sector commission that will address illegal drugs in the city. The commission, however, can only be effective to the extent that it lends essentially support to intensive police surveillance and successful prosecution of arrested suspects

In the context of the recent surge of concern over the illegal drug situation in the province, the Dagupan commission, aside from its main goal of helping in the arrest and prosecution of drug pushers and financiers, now carries an extra burden of proving itself successful by identifying corrupt law enforcement agents, prosecutors and judges who make a living protecting the druglords and their henchmen.

Whether the illegal drug problem in Pangasinan is as bad as the PDEA says or just moderate as the provincial police claims, it is important that there are visible signs of progress in the campaign.

Pangasinan is seeing many developments in the areas of tourism, economy and the delivery of basic services, it would be a waste to have its bright future darkened by the shadow of illegal drug operations, among other crimes that still plague the province.

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