By Jennifer P. Rendon
With year 2016 as its reference, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) noted a steady decline in the number of illegal drug operations.
And this consistent downturn in police operations, the IPPO said, has led to the dramatic decrease in the number of arrested drug personalities in the province of Iloilo in the past seven years,
For Colonel Adrian Acollador, Iloilo police director, this indicates the effective demand reduction efforts of the police, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and other stakeholders.
Reports from the IPPO-Provincial Operations and Management Unit (POMU) showed that only 36 drugs personalities were arrested from January to May this year, or 94.28 percent lower compared to 629 arrested suspects in the same period in 2016.
Acollador said the sustained aggressiveness of the drug enforcement units in coordination with the PDEA in conducting buy-bust operations, along with the parallel activities of the local government units and other support groups, deterred drug personalities from distributing illegal drugs in the province.
“The consistency in monitoring the movement of drug personalities and follow through with the drug surrenderers do help in discouraging the illegal trade,” Acollador said.
The Iloilo top cop also cited the internal cleansing efforts of the IPPO through random drug test of personnel every month as a big factor in the progress of the anti-illegal drug campaign.
“We have to make sure that our personnel, especially those in the drug enforcement units, are not compromised to ensure success in our anti-illegal drugs operations,” he said.
Just last week, IPPO netted four drug personalities in separate buy-bust operations during the Birada Semana.
Members of Oton Municipal Police Station arrested Ronnie Suarez, 30, a resident of Barangay Poblacion South, Oton, Iloilo on May 24.
Suarez allegedly sold two sachets of suspected shabu to a police undercover agent.
On the same day, Dumangas Police Station also arrested another suspected drug pusher at Sitio Pantalan, Brgy. Dacutan, Dumangas, Iloilo.
Ismael Avelino, 36, a resident of Brgy. Lawaan, Roxas City, Capiz was arrested in an entrapment operation.
Recovered from Avelino were six sachets of suspected shabu, among others.
On May 27, members of Carles PNP collared Gilord Biron, 38, of Barabgay Tupaz, Carles town after he yielded three sachets of suspected shabu.
Two days after, members of Passi City Police Station arrested Wilmar Pablico, 48, of Sitio Lunga, Barangay Imbang Grande, Passi City.
Six sachets of shabu were seized from his possession.
Acollador has enjoined everyone not to be complacent with the progress in the anti-illegal drugs campaign.
He also encouraged the community to stay away from the illegal activity and to report anyone who engages in selling illegal drugs.
“We should not lower our guard. Let us stay vigilant and be brave to fight illegal drugs,” he said.
