ILOILO CITY – The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the city government want to take steps to curb illegal drug trade and drug use after newly elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials in this city were linked to these illegal activities.
Police Col. Joeresty Coronica, chief of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), plans to revalidate the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADACs) in the 180 barangays here.
POLICE Col. Joeresty Coronica of the Iloilo City Police Office and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas troop the line in Camp Plagata, headquarters of the ICPO. (PNP ICPO)
Coronica said the revalidation of BADACs would assess the real situation of the illegal drugs trade, illegal drugs use, and suspected drug personalities.
The ICPO has seized millions worth of suspected shabu prior to the October 30 barangay elections and a police officer was killed in a recent major anti-drug operation.
Mayor Jerry Treñas here recommended that the new set of barangay and SK officials in this city undergo drug tests prior to taking their assumption on November 6.
“There is no compromise on this. I expect you to stop any drug activities in Iloilo City or elsewhere. Your election as barangay official will not and does not offer any protection for you,” said Treñas in a statement.
This city was in the limelight when then President Rodrigo Duterte dubbed Iloilo City as “shabulized” and named several politicians and police officers linked to major drug groups.
While the PNP and the Iloilo City government beefed up its anti-drug operations during the Duterte administration, a big volume of shabu re-entered Iloilo City beginning this year.