BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO City – Intensifying the campaign against illegal drugs in Western Visayas, the new regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) established a special team for this city.
“Based sa briefing sa akin at based sa data, maganda ang support ng Iloilo City sa PDEA. Palalakasin natin ‘yong kampanya,” said Director Melvin S. Estoque.
On Thursday, Feb. 2, Estoque paid a courtesy visit to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas. He also visited Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco, director of Police Regional Office 6, yesterday.
“Makakaasa po lahat ng mga kababayan natin sa Western Visayas, magtutulong-tulong kami kasama ang barangays, LGUs (local government units), PNP (Philippine National Police), at lahat po ng counterparts na pwedeng tumulong,” said Estoque.
Last week, Treñas expressed concern that Barangay Bakhaw in Mandurriao district was again becoming a hotbed of drug trafficking.
“I am ordering the police to conduct mobile checkpoints. Anti-drug operations should be continuous,” said Treñas.
His order came after the successful antidrug operation of Police Regional Office 6’s Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) in Barangay Bakhaw on Jan. 25 which resulted in the arrest of 32 individuals and confiscation of suspected shabu valued at P918,000.
Barangay Captain Joel Alvarado of Bakhaw said the illegal drug problem in their village was becoming alarming again, thus he appealed for more assistance from the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
Years back, PDEA-6 described Barangay Bakhaw as the go-to place of drug pushers and users.
During the Duterte administration, however, from 2016 to 2022 there was lull in drug trafficking operations there.
Meanwhile, Estoque, in an interview with DYRI RMN Iloilo yesterday, said he already talked to his provincial officers to learn more about the drug situation in Western Visayas and how they could effectively harness their personnel and resources.
The PDEA-6 director also appealed for support from the public, especially barangay officials.
“‘Yong laban sa illegal na droga hindi namin ‘yan kakayanin kung kami lang. Kailangan lahat ng efforts ng mga agencies, lalo na ‘yong mga kababayan natin. ‘Yong mga tao sa barangay kayo mismo kailangan naming. Suportahan natin ang PDEA, ang PNP at lahat ng lumalaban sa illegal na droga,” Estoque said./PN