Iloilo K9 units boost drug detection at ports, jails

ILOILO CITY — Iloilo’s deployment of 27 narcotics detection dogs (NDDs) is expanding the region’s capacity to intercept illegal drugs.

The dogs fill a gap in detection resources, as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operates with only five NDDs across Western Visayas.

The K9 units, funded by the provincial government, are now used in jail inspections and to augment drug interdiction operations at airports and seaports, according to Christopher Viaña, team leader of the PDEA Iloilo International Airport Interdiction Unit.

Viaña reported the development during the third-quarter meeting of the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) on Thursday at Hotel del Rio.

He said NDDs assigned to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) detected illegal drugs during greyhound operations, or surprise inspections, at the Iloilo District Jail in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, on July 10 and Sept. 13.

The drugs were confiscated.

The IPPO K9 units have also been augmenting PDEA’s regular monitoring at airports and seaports, extending drug detection beyond police operations in the province.

The Iloilo provincial government initiated and funded the K9 program, acquiring 30 dogs for specialized narcotics detection training.

The dogs and their handlers underwent six months of training, and 27 NDDs completed the program.

The course ran for 180 days starting in January and was conducted through a partnership among the provincial government, IPPO, and PDEA, the Daily Guardian reported in July.

The dogs were deployed to IPPO in June.

Viaña said PDEA leadership has recognized the provincial government’s initiative and described it as the first of its kind in the country.

Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. conceptualized the program under Executive Order No. 111, which implements the “4K for MoRProGRes,” or Kapayapaan, Kaayusan at Katatagan Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Bagong Pilipinas, program and institutionalizes community action for peace, order, and national development.

Provincial Administrator Raul Banias presided over the PADAC meeting on behalf of Defensor, who was in Manila on official business.

Banias said the provincial government remains committed to achieving drug-cleared status for all barangays and to maintaining zero tolerance for barangay officials found to be involved in the illegal drug trade.

Drug haul

The expanded K9 capability comes as police continue to report significant drug seizures in Iloilo.

IPPO director Police Col. Bayani Razalan said the provincial police conducted 333 anti-illegal drug operations from Jan. 1 to Sept. 21.

The operations resulted in the confiscation of 30,144.82 grams, or about 30.14 kilograms, of shabu, or methamphetamine hydrochloride, and 438.27 grams of marijuana.

The seized drugs had an estimated total value of PHP 202,567,255.

PDEA, meanwhile, reported that only one of Iloilo’s 1,721 barangays remains uncleared.

Eyeing Iloilo City ports

PADAC is also looking to extend K9 coverage to Iloilo City’s major entry and exit points.

The council approved a resolution by 2nd District Board Member June Mondejar requesting the Iloilo City government to provide additional narcotics detection dogs for the city’s two seaports and other entry and exit points.

Mondejar cited recent police apprehensions in which some illegal drugs seized in the province reportedly came from sources in Iloilo City.

The proposal seeks to strengthen detection at ports and other points where illegal drugs could be brought into the province.

Dino Ponsaran, provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), also attended the meeting, along with other members of the provincial anti-drug council.