Deretsahan
Drug problem “already contained”
By Bebot Villar
THAT is the gist of the letter I received from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Arturo Cacdac. Ito ay bilang response ni Gen. Cacdac sa mga puna ng inyong lingkod tungkol sa drug situation sa ating region.
Kudos to him kung ganun because people will have peace of mind kapag alam nilang walang mga addicts or drug personalities operating in our place. I’m sure the PDEA chief has a strong basis for saying so in his letter. But of course, people in the barangays know the real situation, thus their active reporting is strongly urged.
Syempre worried ako pag may mga reports about illegal drugs particularly in Region 1.
This is my region. I should love it.
But honestly limited ang aking mandate as chairman of Dangerous Drugs Board dahil ours is a policy-making body. Ang PDEA naman ang law enforcement arm in the fight against illegal drugs. Sila ang strike force. They go against drug personalities. Sila ang nanghuhuli sa mga ito.
Let me share with you why Gen. Cacdac wrote me a letter. Nag react siya sa aking column, particularly sa People’s Tonight (na lumabas din sa dyaryong ito ang bagay na aking pinuna) tungkol sa biglaang pag transfer kay PDEA Region 1 Director Jeoffrey Tacio sa Region 3.
Allow me please to quote his letter to me dated October 7, 2013. Here:
“In line with the marching order of the President to PDEA to step up its fight against dangerous drugs by destroying their source, the Agency shifted its strategic direction to pursue high-impact operations and high-value targets. At present, the Agency has neutralized ten (10) priority local drug groups and 101 priority target-listed drug personalities with Regions 1 and 9 having exceeded their operational targets.
Based on the number of anti-drug operations, arrested drug personalities and high volume seizures of shabu, the drug problem is concentrated in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalong. From 2009, the largest haul by the anti-drug units was the seizure of 432 kilos of shabu in Subic, Zambales in August 2013”.
Sa kanyang sulat, sinabi nyang itong sina Tacio at Adzhar Albani ng Region 1 and 9 respectively “ are among the best PDEA Regional Directors”.
Sila ay na transfer sa Regions 3 and 4A, respectively “to carry out high-impact operations and pursue high-value targets in the centers of the illegal drug trade”.
Isa daw dyan ay magsagawa ng follow up, base sa utos ni Presidente PNoy, ng imbestigasyon on the recovered 432 kilos of shabu in Zambales.
But here’s the better news dun sa kanyang sulat: With the intensified anti-drug operations, the situation in Region 1 is already contained. To me, the phrase “already contained” means, okay na, under control na. Have no fear, maybe that’s what the good general wanted to impress on us, especially me.
But even with this assurance, ang PDEA and the police should not relax and enjoy yet. The challenge remains. Kaya naman I am happy when I get reports that the Dagupan police under Supt. Christopher Abrahano and Mayor Belen Fernandez are unrelenting in their fight to rid Dagupan of the drug problem.
Malaking tulong itong ginagawa nila na non-stop na information dissemination, advocacy campaign in the barangays, arrests of drug personalities, confiscation of illegal drugs, among others all meant to erase the tag, especially that of Barangay Bonuan Binloc, as seriously drug-affected under PDEA’s earlier classification.
Sabi pa ni Gen. Cacdac, “PDEA Regional Office 1, under the direct command of Regional Director Tacio, has neutralized 15 of the top 16 regional drug personalities”.
So it means, 15 down, one more to go na lang! Kayang-kaya na daw na i-handle ng bagong PDEA Regional Director in Region 1 na si Adrian Alvarino ang concern na ito.
Siguro with this report, happy si Pangasinan Fourth District Congresswoman Gina de Venecia who is from Barangay Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City. Balita ko ay nag courtesy call na sa kanya ang bagong PDEA chief ng Region 1. Good luck sa kanilang dalawa. Unsolicited advice lang sa mabait na congresswoman, kailangan sa laban na yan ang iron hand!
I do not know personally itong si Director Adrian yet I wish him the best na sana he can equal, if not surpass, Tacio’s accomplishments. Alam kong in reality, napakarami pang dapat gawin, up to his neck pa ang mga challenges na dapat nyang harapin.
Rest not on the laurels of Tacio.
Sana nga tunay na drug-free na ang Region 1, kung totoong one to go na lang, sa mga dapat na i-neutralize na drug personality. This should send a strong message sa mga drug pushers na magbago na sila dahil the strike force from PDEA is out to get them.
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