BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
ILOILO City – The port of Dumangas, Iloilo has a porous security, making it an ideal transshipment point of illegal drugs, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 6.
To stop the proliferation of illegal drugs primarily in his municipality an elsewhere in the province, Dumangas’ Mayor Rolando Distura said a port-based task force would be formed.
Task Force Puerto would be inspecting vehicles and cargoes getting in and out, and the baggage of passengers entering and leaving the port, said Distura, who was the guest of “Reklamo Publiko” program yesterday.
Task Force Puerto will be composed of the local police, Department of Social Welfare and Development, PDEA, Land Transportation Office and the local government of Dumangas.
The Philippine Army or Philippine Air Force would be asked to provide the task force with at least one dog trained to detect illegal drugs and even explosives, said Distura.
“As chief executive, I have the responsibility to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs in Dumangas. I want to cleanse our town. We are hoping this task force would help us,” Distura said.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. recently ordered a tight monitoring of seaports for the possible entry of illegal drugs.
There are also ports in the towns of Carles and Ajuy.
February last year, a suspected drug pusher from Bacolod City was arrested at the roll-on, roll-off port in Dumangas.
Jerwin Wong, 25, of Doña Juliana Heights, Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City was busted by joint operatives of the Dumangas police and PDEA.
Recovered from him was a kilo of marijuana worth P10,000.
According to the Dumangas police, Wong had been frequenting Iloilo via the Dumangas port.
During interrogation, Wong admitted he was selling marijuana for more than two years already and that he got supplies from Iloilo.
He, however, refused to name his contact person in this province.
Distura said the local government of Dumangas also gives cash reward to tipsters who can help the police arrest drug dealers and file cases in court.
A tipster receives P10,000 for every arrest of a drug pusher.
“We allot P200,000 every year to those who can help us,” Distura said.
One of the recent successes of the scheme was the arrest of Barangay Captain Teopisto Gomez in Barangay Calao.
Gomez was eventually charged before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and for illegal possession of firearms.
He was caught in possession of shabu and drug paraphernalia, as well as a caliber .40 and M16 rifle just this May.
Gomez’s arrest saddened Distura. But he said his political ally had to face the consequences of his actions.
The mayor said he learned of Gomez’s illegal activities early this year and warned the barangay captain through common friends to stop.
But Gomez apparently did not heed Distura’s appeal.
Meanwhile, Distura welcomed the proposed expansion of Dumangas port.
No less than Senate President Franklin Drilon asked the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to conduct a feasibility study on the port’s expansion.
PPA has set aside P180 million for the port’s development, including the reclamation of a backup area with two-unit roll on, roll off ramp, construction of breasting dolphins and extension of tge pier.
At present, Dumangas port is serving roll-on, roll-off vessels plying the Bacolod-Iloilo route and vice versa./PN
