Worsening drug problem in Urdaneta

By Bebot Villar

 

TO say that distressing ang mga recent reports tungkol sa rampant drug-pushing sa Urdaneta City would be an understatement.

Actually, I am no longer surprised sa mga ganitong information. In fact, I know that there is one councilor there suspected to be involved sa illegal drugs but we leave that matter to our law enforcement partners for now.

But why am I raising this matter here again? Recently, there were senior parishioners from Urdaneta who expressed deep concern about it and even wondered kung legal na nga ba ang pagbebenta ng droga? Pawang mga religious sila. For them to ask or even to wonder about it indicates how serious the problem has become.

Initially, I was taken aback by their question. Bakit ganun na lamang ang kanilang tanong? I am sure meron silang talagang matinding dahilan. They already just don’t fear for their safety, but are already afraid for the welfare and the future ng kanilang mga anak at apo.  Paano nga naman sila they are surrounded by addicts and pushers?

They say that drug pushing has become so bad na parang street candy na lamang ang binebenta ng drug pushers sa Urdaneta. The big question is – why have they become so free and bold? “The price is right” na ba sa mga dapat na manghuli sa kanila which is why nobody cares to stop the drug-pushing? Natutulog kaya sa pancitan ang mga Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents and the Urdaneta police station? Heto na nga at isinisigaw na ng taong bayan ng Urdaneta ang problemang ito, pero bakit hindi nila tutukan?

The city residents are pointing to the two Muslim communities in Urdaneta kung saan ay tuluy-tuloy diumano ang drug trading. What are the city hall and the police doing about it?

Who are protecting these drug pushers/peddlers/syndicates? Why are they untouchables?

However, according to P/Supt. Jeff Fanged, police chief ng Urdaneta City, mas maganda pa nga daw ngayon ang campaign nila against illegal drugs and this claim is backed up by data, i.e., arrests and confiscations of illegal drugs, etc.  that he would show to me when he finally appears in my K17 Channel program na Deretsahan sa USATV (aired live every Saturday at 10:00 a.m.). Initially, he claims that because of his station’s aggressive campaign, lumilipat na daw sa mga neighboring towns ng Urdaneta itong mga drug pushers. That’s ok and appreciated, Colonel.

Pero bakit marami pa ring sumbong na dumadating sa akin? Why, oh why?

Sabi nga nila, prospects of doing business in Urdaneta City are good and in fact at par, if not better, than Dagupan City na over-crowded na daw masyado. Practically all the big banks area already there. It has its share of malls at nandiyan na rin ang mga universities and fast food chains. Pati ba naman mga drug pushers dyan na rin ang hub nila?

In many aspects, maganda ang feedback na nakukuha natin sa Perez administration. Malinis ang Urdaneta City which was why pinupuri natin si Mayor Bobom Perez in my previous columns. But it looks like napapabayaan itong illegal drug trade sa lugar nya? Aba, mukhang “malinis” din ang drug trading dyan. Hindi kaya nya alam ang totoong situation dyan? Hindi kaya’t bukol ito sa magandang administration ni Mayor Perez?

Itong mga PDEA agents naman na expected to be at the frontline in the war vs illegal drugs, saan ba naka-focus ang mga mata niyo?  Wala bang utos ng boss nyo to wage an all-out war sa illegal drugs sa Urdaneta?

I am glad that in Dagupan City we are seeing serious and sustained efforts by Mayor Belen Fernandez at Supt. Chris Abrahano. Talagang very alarming din ang previous report ng PDEA na itong Bonuan Binloc ay nasa category 1, meaning seriously drug-affected. Nakita ko ang dedication nila in the fight against illegal drugs that’s why the Dangerous Drugs Board cited and presented them with awards during the DDB anniversary celebration last month.

Si P/Sr. Supt. Marlou Chan, police director ng Pangasinan, naman mukhang may pagka palos ata ito. Magaling sa iwas-pusoy every time I invite him to my Deretsahan TV program. Ang dami nyang alibi para hindi mapaunlakan ang ating invitation. Is he camera shy? Hindi naman pangit si Col. Chan para mahihiyang humarap sa camera pero bakit kaya? O takot sa deretesahang tanong ko? May itinatago ka ba, Colonel?

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