WV’s anti-drugs operations increase in 2009
Anti-illegal drug operations in Western Visayas posted a notable increase for the year 2009.
This, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) VI citing that 2009 saw 302 anti-narcotics operations that led to the arrest of 448 drug personalities.
The said number is way high compared to 2008’s 231 operations and arrests of 322 persons.
PDEA-6 regional director Paul Ledesma said that the increase of operations also converted to the neutralization of several notorious drug personalities in Western Visayas.
Of the 302 successful anti-illegal drug operations, 99 were spearheaded by PDEA-6 while the Iloilo City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Group (CAIDSOG) did 9 and the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Group had 17.
Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO)’s City Proper Police Station and La Paz Police Station conducted 8 operations each; Jaro PNP and Molo PNP with 5 each; Mandurriao PNP with 6; and Arevalo Police Station with 9.
Further, Antique and Aklan police provincial offices registered 12 operations each for the whole year; Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO) with 13; Guimaras PPO with 11; Iloilo PPO with 37; Negros Occidental PPO with 31; and Bacolod City Police Office with 19.
As this developed, Ledesma said that they have yet to validate the drug-affected barangays in Western Visayas.
As it is, PDEA-6 records showed that all of 180 barangays in Iloilo City remain drug-affected.
Of the 4,050 barangays in Western Visayas, 430 are deemed affected.
With Iloilo City topping the list with 180, Iloilo province followed with 111 of its 1721 barangays as drug affected.
Negros Occidental has 68 of its 600 barangays; Capis has 32 of its 473 barangays; Aklan has 12 of its 327 areas; Bacolod City with 9 of its 61 villages; Guimaras has also 9 of its 98 barangays; and Antique recorded 8 of its 590 barangays.
Ledesma explained that Iloilo City topped the list because it is constantly validated.
