PDEA drug-watch heightens as city celebrates Dinagyang Fest
January's anti-drug operations of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) comes to a climax this weekend with PDEA agents busiest than ever. In fact, arrests are expected come Dinagyang Festival days itself.
With the mission to neutralize any and all attempts for illegal drug proliferation, Police Superintendent Roybel Sanchez, PDEA Regional Director has since declared an all-out war.
"We will get them. Whether they are operating as a group or not, we will get them," Supt. Sanchez told The News Today (TNT) yesterday when reached for statement on last-minute instructions. "And our men from the field, they go back with negative results lately. It could be because of our intensified campaign and operations or maybe they are waiting for the event-highlight and distribute it."
As such, Supt. Sanchez ordered for the close monitoring of terminals and surveillance of the province's entry and exit points. This, the PDEA acknowledged, because "supply of illegal drugs is expected to rise during the festivities."
"PDEA Regional Office 6 is geared up in neutralize target drug groups and (drug) watchlist personalities in the region at the start of the year. Some of them are targeted to be apprehended during the Dinagyang 2008 celebration," the PDEA in a news release said. "PDEA RO-VI has coordinated with other law enforcement agencies in order to beef up the anti-drug operations."