CAPITOL NEWS

GOVERNOR Amado I. Espino III led the 1st Quarter Joint Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) held at the Capitol Resort Hotel on March 31.

            In his message, Governor Espino commended the strong partnership of the provincial government and other council members, to include national government agencies, local government units and other stakeholders, especially, during this pandemic due to COVID-19.

“Maraming salamat po sa inyong sakripisyo. Nandito pa rin tayo sa mapanghamon na sitwasyon nitong pandemya… thank you po sa pagmamahal niyo sa probinsya ng Pangasinan,” Governor Espino stated.

The provincial chief executive also enjoined council members to remain vigilant due to the spike of COVID-19 cases recorded in the province.

Governor Espino also said that the joint council meeting aims to address not only the COVID-19 situation in the province, but also, to highlight updates and programs on peace and order as well as drug situation in the province.

            Joining Governor Espino in leading the joint council meeting were: Pangasinan Police Provincial Office Director Ronald Gayo, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Provincial Officer Dexter Asayco and PADAC Secretary Carlo Resurrecion.

Meanwhile, some other 41 council members participated in the meeting via Zoom teleconference to ensure the physical distancing.

Col. Gayo reported that the Pangasinan PPO recorded 1,542 crimes in the province from January 1 to March 28 this year, a 43% decrease from crime statistics in the same period with 2,706 cases in 2020.

It was noted, however, that among crime records in the province, the three most-committed crimes are: rape, theft and robbery.

The Pangasinan PPO also supported strict implementation of health and safety protocols against COVID-19. Since the pronouncement of Enhanced Community Quarantine on March 17 last year, a total of 187,177 individuals were reported who violated the following protocols: liquor ban; wearing of face mask and face shield; social distancing; spread of fake news; illegal gambling; operating PUV during ECQ; and disobedience.

To date, there are 1,274 drug-cleared barangays or 81% out of the 1,364 barangays in the province, Col. Gayo reported.

The accomplishment in crime statistics, Col. Gayo added, can be attributed to the intensified weekly anti-crime operations of the police force.

Police personnel around the province have successfully staged 344 anti-drug operations that led to the arrest of 362 drug personalities, Col. Gayo also stated.

In addition to this, the Pangasinan PPO also conducts campaigns against loose firearms and illegal gambling.

PDEA Provincial Officer Asayco noted that the agency aims to establish an intervention center, dubbed “Balay Silangan” that will accommodate not only drug personalities who are tagged as ‘drug pushers’ but also those who availed of the “plea bargaining agreement.”

Also present in the on-site venue were: Provincial Administrator Nimrod S. Camba and some department heads of the provincial government, namely: Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Rhodyn Luchinvar Oro, Special Events Head Marife Acerit and Provincial Information Officer Orpheus M. Velasco.  /Shiella Mae De Guzman

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