LINGAYEN– This premier province has 128 barangays in different towns and cities that are already drug-cleared since the new administration launched its intensified narco-war.

Superintendent Jackie Candelario, deputy police director for operations, said the number was the latest recorded so far as of Oct. 21 but no details were provided.

Earlier, the provincial police listed the 36 barangays cleared of drugs after police operations in collaboration with towns’ mayors and barangay officials. These were:

Alaminos City, (Macatiw, San Antonio, Cabatuan, Maawi, Baleyadaan); Agno (Patar); Dasol (Tambac); Binmaley (Parayao); Labrador (Bongalon);
Mangatarem (Buaya, Duplac); San Carlos City (Antipangol); Calasiao (Longos); Sta Barbara (Marunong, Erfe, Leet); Manaoag (Parian); Urdaneta (Tipuso); Alcala (Carangalaan); Bautista (Nandacan, Pogo); Laoac (Cabulalaan, Tologtog); Villasis (Lapaz, Labit); Balungao (Mabini); San Nicolas (Fianza, San Rafael East, San Rafael Centro); Sta. Maria (Capandanan, Pataquio, Pugot, Sta Cruz); Tayug (C. Lichauco); Umingan (Cabatuan, Diaz).

There are 1,364 barangays across Pangasinan.

P/Sr. Superintendent Ronald Lee, acting police provincial director, said the Pangasinan Police Provincial Police is aiming to declare more municipalities as drug-free within the year with the continuous implementation of Project Double Barrel.

Only Sto. Tomas town’s ten barangays have been declared drug-free by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency long before the Duterte administration launched its intensified war on drugs. This continues up to the present.

All the town’s 10 barangays underwent rigorous evaluation down to the grassroots where they have barangay anti-drug abuse councils, he added.

The declaration of the drug- free barangays is based on the following factors: non-availability of drug supply; absence of drug transit/transshipment activity; absence of clandestine drug laboratory; absence of clandestine drug warehouse; Absence of clandestine chemical warehouse; absence of marijuana cultivation site; Absence of drug den, dive or resort; absence of drug pusher; absence of drug user/dependent; absence of protector/coddler and financier;

Active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities; active involvement of Sangguniang Kabataan to help maintain the drug-liberated status of the barangay; existence of drug awareness, preventive education and information, and other related programs; and existence of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk.

Lee also challenged more cities and municipalities to protect their communities from being infiltrated by illegal drugs. (Tita Roces)

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