Police: Pangasinan is not major source of illegal drugs
LINGAYEN– The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) tagged Pangasinan but the provincial police begs to disagree.
Senior Superintendent Rosueto Ricaforte, provincial police director, has flatly denied a report from the PDEA that Pangasinan is now among the top 10 provinces that are major sources of illegal drugs.
“If that is their (PDEA) figure, we have also our own assessment,” said Ricaforte.
He said his command has many accomplishments to show as far as the continuing campaign against illegal drugs is concerned.
Identified as major problem area in the province by the PDEA is Dagupan City, the biggest urban area in the province, followed by the three other cities, Alaminos, San Carlos and Urdaneta, according to Ricaforte.
The Dagupan government recently announced that it is setting up a multi-sector group that will address illegal drugs in the city.
He also cited that there is no drug laboratory in Pangasinan unlike in other provinces.
He admitted, however, that the arrests conducted have so far been limited to street level pushers and have yet “to bag the big fish”.
CITIES
“This is understandable because Dagupan, Urdaneta, Alaminos and San Carlos cities are now all urbanized and where the people are really crowding,” Ricaforte said.
He said there is need to consult with the PDEA in order to reconcile figures.
Nonetheless, Ricaforte said police operations in Pangasinan against illegal drugs are continuing in coordination with the PDEA.
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