Manila: Police in Negros Oriental seized over PHP124.8 million worth of suspected shabu in the province from January 1 to November 1 this year, an official said on Monday. Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO), revealed that during this period, 460 individuals were apprehended in numerous anti-illegal drug operations across the province. Additionally, authorities confiscated approximately 47 grams of marijuana and 161 pieces of marijuana cigarettes.
According to Philippines News Agency, Col. Criscente Tiguelo, officer-in-charge of NOrPPO, emphasized that their main objective in anti-illegal drug operations is to curb the supply by engaging communities in their efforts. Tiguelo highlighted the success of their “Neighborhood Shield” initiative, which led to the arrest of an elected official from Barangay Looc in Dumaguete just before the Buglasan Festival. The approach also includes the government’s drug-clearing operations at the barangay level, with four barangays currently up for assessment by the regional oversight committee, which consists of the Drug Abuse Council and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Tiguelo added that the police are nearly halfway through clearing the 557 barangays in the province. Polinar noted that coordination with PDEA and other law enforcement agencies is crucial for tracking down drug personalities and sources, as there are no shabu factories in the area. Intelligence reports, monitoring, and arrests indicate that the majority of the shabu supply comes from Mindanao.
Among the six cities in the province, Dumaguete, Guihulngan, and Bais have the highest number of illegal drug cases. Only 10 percent of Dumaguete’s 30 barangays have been drug-cleared, highlighting the severity of the drug issue in the capital, as stated by Polinar. In terms of barangay drug-clearing operations, Canlaon City has achieved 83 percent, Bais City 74 percent, Tanjay City 67 percent, and Guihulngan City 42 percent in their accomplishments.
