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[av_heading heading=’City’s drug-affected villages rise to 154 ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – Despite the police’s campaign against illegal drugs, the number of barangays affected by illegal drugs rose to 154, according to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
Last month, the ICPO said 143 of the city’s 180 villages were drug-affected.
Senior Superintendent Remus Zacharias Canieso, however, played down the increase. There were changes in the parameters set by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) in classifying a barangay’s drug affectation level, he explained.
“We are following the new parameters,” said Canieso.
According to DDB, a barangay is “highly affected” if over 20 percent of its total population is into illegal drugs, has at least three drug dens, and has presence of marijuana cultivation.
A “moderately affected” barangay has less than 20 percent of its population into illegal drugs while a “slightly affected” village has less than two percent of its total population engaged in illegal drugs.
“These parameters are now being used by all law enforcement agencies,” said Canieso.
While 154 of the city’s 180 barangays are now considered drug-affected (either highly, moderately or slight), the ICPO is not ready to declare the 26 remaining villages as drug-free. Canieso said their validation of these barangays are still ongoing.
Still, Canieso remains hopeful that some barangays will be declared drug-free before this year is over.
He said the ICPO is stepping up its Oplan Double Barrel campaign. The Philippine National Police’s intensified campaign against drug trafficking was launched on July 1.
Before Oplan Double Barrel, ICPO listed 100 drug-affected barangays.
In a meeting with the Iloilo City Anti-Drug Abuse Council and the City Peace and Order Council last month, the ICPO reported that out of the 475,384 population here, 2,278 were considered as drug personalities.
More aggressive operations against the illicit trade has resulted in increased arrests, Canieso stressed.
“Subong mas nagdamo ang operations. It’s like you’ve opened an anthill. Pag-ukay, nag-gu-al ang mga subay,” he said.
Canieso claimed the ICPO stages 50 antidrug operations a month on average since the launch of Oplan Double Barrel.
Previously the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 6 identified six barangays as its “major areas of concern.” They were Bakhaw in Mandurriao district, Tanza Esperanza and Monica in City Proper, Desamparados in Jaro, South San Jose and Boulevard in Molo./PN
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