The national government should equip barangay officials with the necessary tools to effectively fight illegal drugs problems in their respective areas, officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
This, as both DILG Undersecretary Oscar Valenzuela and PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva said that barangay officials should take the lead in the fight against illegal drugs in the renewed drug war.
Valenzuela explained that the barangays should be provided with the appropriate resources being the country’s ‘frontliners’ in the all-out war against illegal drugs.
PDEA records revealed that there are 9,693 drug-affected out of the 42,046 barangays in the Philippines. The agency noted that 25,802 barangays were ‘cleared’ of drugs; 5,811 are ‘drug-free’ and 740 others were ‘drug-unaffected.’
Villanueva also admitted that confiscating illegal drugs has been more challenging and grueling since syndicates now use the seas in their unlawful-dealing ways.
Earlier, the agency said that their hands are full in performing their illegal drug enforcement tasks as the country being an archipelago composed of more than 7,000 islands has many entry points where prohibited drugs may be delivered.
“Susundin ng bangka (illegal drug dealers) sa gitna. Ibabagsak sa gitna at may taga-hila, yung winch. Kaya yung operatiba na nagbabantay sa aplaya, walang makikitang bangka. Pero merong humihila na winch. Yung mga iligal na droga, tuluy-tuloy sa aplaya, walang bangka (Boats will fetch in the middle of the water. The contraband will be dropped in the middle with people pulling them using a winch. That is why the operatives waiting on the shoreline do not see the boat. But there are people pulling the winch where the illegal drugs are brought to the beach with no boats),’’ Villanueva explained.
A winch is a hauling or lifting device consisting of a rope, cable, or chain winding around a horizontal rotating drum, turned by a crank or by motor or other power source.
Villanueva noted that the PDEA is now checking the bank accounts of individuals suspected to be financing illegal drugs.
“As of now we have more than 100 financial investigation agents deputized by the AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) na motu propio kaya na naming mag-investigate (we can investigate) financially on those persons that we arrest na meron kaming financial evidence transactions (that we have the financial evidence transactions). We have 118 on-going investigations and we have 109 targets,” Villanueva said.
The agency also has supported the reimposition of the death penalty in the country, which should cover even government officials and those who would be convicted of selling a minimum of 10 kilos of illegal drugs.
PDEA also has proposed to require the Reserved Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets to take part in the government’s war against drugs.
“We can train them (ROTC cadets), we can empower them. So instead na magbilad-bilad sila dyan sa araw, maging (anti-)drug advocate sila. Kahit sa university lang sila magturo as part of their curriculum nila.(of being under the scorching heat of the sun, they can be anti-drug advocates). Even just teaching in the university as part of their curriculum. Drug abuse prevention education,’’ he added.
The agency also supports the proposed bill that would legalize the use of marijuana or cannabis for medical purposes. (Chito A. Chavez)