BACOLOD CITY – Police Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod police director, dismissed reports that illegal drugs in Iloilo were sourced in this city.
CORONICA (Glazyl Masculino)
Coronica, reacting to allegations by Police Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido during a recent mega-panel hearing by the House of Representatives on the anti-drug campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte, said that some drug groups still exist here, but this city is not a “shabulized” area.
The Bacolod police chief said there is no drug laboratory here and supply is from Luzon and Mindanao.
Coronica recalled that he conducted major anti-drug operations when he was assigned to Iloilo.
“What is important is that we have big drug recoveries, or else these illegal drugs would destroy many individuals,” he said.
Mayor Albee Benitez has directed the BCPO to determine the source of illegal drugs entering this city. “Where are these illegal drugs come from?” Benitez asked.
Benitez was informed that most of the BCPO’s apprehensions were drug-related.
Just last month, the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU)-Western Visayas confiscated six kilos of suspected shabu valued at P41,344,000 in Barangay 35 here.
Coronica said that the contraband came from Luzon but did not elaborate further.
He said that he does agree with Espenido’s statement that the Philippine National Police (PNP) is the biggest crime group in the country.
“While we can say that we are not perfect just like any other organization, I personally believe that PNP is not the biggest crime group,” he said.
Espenido was also assigned to the BCPO in October 2019 after his assignment in Iloilo.