Benitez orders probe into source of illegal drugs

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez has directed the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) to investigate the source of illegal drugs entering the city.

“Where are these illegal drugs coming from?” Benitez asked as he ordered the city police force to probe and determine the source of the illegal substances.

The mayor said he was informed that most of the BCPO’s recent arrests were drug-related cases.

Just last month, the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU)-6 seized around six kilos of suspected shabu worth P41.3 million from a 28-year-old man during a buy-bust operation in Barangay 35.

During a mega-panel hearing led by the House of Representatives on the anti-illegal drug war of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido alleged that illegal drugs in Iloilo were being sourced from Bacolod.

However, Police Colonel Joeresty Coronica, BCPO director, dismissed this allegation in a recent media interview.

Coronica said there is no drug laboratory in Bacolod and that most of the illegal drugs are sourced from Luzon, with some coming from Mindanao.

While he acknowledged the existence of drug groups operating in the city, Coronica stressed that Bacolod is not a “shabulized” area.

Coronica also recalled his involvement in significant anti-drug operations during his previous assignment in Iloilo before his recent post in Bacolod.

“What’s important is that we are making large drug recoveries, or else these illegal drugs would destroy many lives,” Coronica said.

Coronica disagreed with Espenido’s statement that the Philippine National Police (PNP) is the biggest crime group in the country.

“While we can admit that we are not perfect, just like any other organization, I personally believe that the PNP is not the biggest crime group,” he added.

Espenido was transferred to Bacolod in October 2019 after serving in Iloilo.