AN official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional office has confirmed that several barangay officials and appointed government officials in the region continue to be under surveillance for their reported involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Bismark Bengwayan, PDEA regional information officer, said despite the intensified campaign contra illegal drugs over the past 15 months, some barangay officials and government officials have been monitored to be continuing their illegal drug activities.

He, however, told the KBP Forum that PDEA can not identify them until they are arrested in the weeks ahead.

He said many of these officials had surrendered to the police when the war on drugs was in progress and submitted themselves to rehabilitation.

But others in the drug watch list have decided to continue their illegal activities.

He advised the government and barangay officials to surrender and submit to voluntary rehabilitation before they get arrested and charged in court.

Bengwayan said no drug laboratory in Region 1 has operated since a clandestine drug laboratory in Barangay Bimmotobot, Naguilian, La Union was dismantled more than 10 years ago.

But he said there is a tighter watch on the region’s shoreline is being done because drug smugglers might resume unloading their contraband on the shores since the smuggling through the customs has been uncovered.

Ilocos region has the longest shoreline throughout the country so there is a strong possibility that drug smugglers will exploit the situation.

Bengwayan admitted that the Philippine Navy as well as the Coast Guard don’t have enough floating assets to be able to fully guard the sea and the shoreline. (Leonardo Micua)

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