ILOILO City – The recent interception of 120 kilos of shabu in Calapan, Mindoro — allegedly destined for Iloilo — has laid bare a vulnerability: Western Visayas’ sprawling and porous coastlines remain a soft target for drug smugglers.
Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky, director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), admitted that while seaports and checkpoints are routinely guarded, the region’s unmonitored shorelines are a weak spot in the war against illegal drugs.
Even with interdiction efforts, the PRO-6 recognizes that the region’s coastlines are a challenge. It cannot monitor every inch of the region’s shores, Wanky said, pointing out that drug syndicates are now exploiting maritime routes to evade police scrutiny.
The suspect in the Calapan operation, an Ilonggo from Oton town long under surveillance, was initially not considered a high-value target — until authorities seized P800 million worth of shabu in his possession.
He had been monitored, but only now does the PRO-6 see the scale of his involvement. The volume of drugs he was carrying shows he is a major player, Wanky added.
Authorities believe the drugs could have been routed through Panay, Negros, Cebu, or even Mindanao. With roll-on/roll-off (RORO) vessels frequently used as transport modes, Western Visayas’ strategic location makes it a prime transit hub.
In response, PRO-6 is intensifying coastal surveillance by mobilizing Bantay Dagat teams and holding seminars for coastal barangays to boost grassroots vigilance.
Bantay Dagat groups should not only look out for illegal fishing but also help detect drug smuggling activities, said Wanky, and the PRO-6 is working closely with LGUs to raise awareness and sharpen their watch.
The massive drug haul — the biggest linked so far to an Ilonggo suspect under the current administration — raises fears that syndicates are shifting gears to flood the local market anew.
Drug syndicates want to restore the large-scale presence of users and pushers seen prior to the Duterte administration, and their strategy is to flood the market, Wanky warned.
Authorities are now coordinating with the MIMAROPA police to uncover the full extent of the suspect’s network, including his financiers, suppliers, and possible accomplices in the region.
As follow-up operations continue, Wanky stressed the need for unified action.
The police are serious about this campaign, but Wanky said they cannot do it alone. Community cooperation and inter-agency coordination are crucial if PRO-6 is to secure Western Visayas’ coastline and prevent the resurgence of drug proliferation, he said./PN
