PDEA certifies Sto. Tomas as “drug-unaffected”
FIRST AND ONLY TOWN
STO. TOMAS—This smallest yet considered the most peaceful town in Pangasinan earned anew a certification from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) being drug-unaffected.
The certification signed by PDEA Region 1 Director Jeoffrey Tacio, also the chairman of the Regional Oversight Committee, said, “the municipality of Santo Tomas, Pangasinan, with its 10 barangays, has not been affected by any illegal drugs related activities, therefore making it a non-drug affected municipality as per validation and assessment of the Regional Oversight Committee headed by this Office.”
Mayor Timoteo Villar III said he received the “Certificate of Non-Drug Affectation” form then PDEA Director General Isidro Lapeña in Urdaneta City on Tuesday prior to his assumption of his new assignment as head of the Bureau of Customs.
“We will continue to work harder to maintain this status as the lone municipality in Pangasinan unaffected by drugs. We have been doing this for many years already and we are doubling our efforts in support of the no-nonsense drug war of President Duterte,” Villar said.
“Just like the President, we hate drugs and crimes, too,” he added.
Villar said the awards given by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board) and PDEA Region 1 for being drug-free continue to inspire the townsfolk.
Former Dangerous Drugs Board Secretary Antonio Villar Jr, the mayor’s uncle, started the all-out war against illegal drugs when he was still the town’s mayor and has been continued since. (Eva Visperas)
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