ILOILO City – Village chiefs who fail to take part in the drug clearing program would be charged administratively, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 6 (PDEA-6).
Currently, 84 percent of 4,051 barangays in Western Visayas were cleared of illegal drugs, said Shey Tanaleon, spokesperson.
But PDEA-6 director Alex Tablate wanted the remaining barangays to submit letters of intent to be “cleared”, otherwise, they face charges.
“As village chiefs, they have the obligation in clearing their barangays of illegal drugs,” Tanaleon said.
“This is not only to comply with the government’s program, but also a way of maintaining peace and order,” she added.
Tanaleon revealed some village chiefs did not even try to submit letters of intent to be assessed by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).
The parameters for the assessment, as set by the DDB, are the non-availability of drug supply; absence of drug-dependents, pushers, users, absence of clandestine drug laboratory; active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities; drug awareness, preventive education and information programs; and the existence of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desks.
Barangays are also required to ensure their drug surrenderers graduate from the community-based rehabilitation program.
“Madamo drug surrenderers nga wala pa makatapos from the community-based rehabilitation program because of the pandemic. Indi pa pwede ang face-to-face (interaction),” Tanaleon added.
As of August this year, PDEA-6 records showed only the province of Aklan was 100 percent drug cleared.
Antique was 99.32 drug cleared; Iloilo (96.22 percent); Guimaras (93.88 percent); Capiz (80.97 percent); Iloilo City (48.88 percent); Negros Occidental (43.42 percent); and Bacolod City (21.31 percent).
Tanaleon said it was challenging to clear the highly-urbanized cities because of their population.
Iloilo City has 180 villages, of which 92 are yet to be cleared./PN
