By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives seized shabu worth PHP1.054 billion in Angeles City, Pampanga on Monday.
In a statement on Tuesday, PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez said the illegal drugs placed inside 155 transparent plastic bags weighing one kilogram each were seized during the implementation of a search warrant inside a house along Orchid Street, Timog Hills Subdivision, Barangay Pampang, Angeles City.
The house turned out to be abandoned, and the subject of the search warrant, a Chinese national, was nowhere in sight and remains at large.
The Chinese national will be facing charges for violation of Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Less than two weeks ago, PDEA confiscated over 35 kilos of shabu following a buy-bust operation also in Angeles City, which also led to the arrest of a Chinese national and his Filipina cohort.
“The two drug operations mentioned are linked to each other. What you see is the outcome of persistent tracking of previous operations targeting individuals connected to syndicated drug trafficking, to include their sources,” Nerez said.
“While PDEA prioritizes the conduct of high-impact operations resulting in the arrests of high-value drug personalities and high-volume drug seizures, it is at the grassroots level where most of the drugs are sold and abused.”
He said the PDEA will not relinquish its thrust to go after small-scale drug dealers in communities as ordered by Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Nerez said the agency will realign its efforts in combating the illegal drug trade at all levels of society.
The PDEA continues to strengthen its partnerships with other drug law enforcement agencies and stakeholders.
It also encourages the participation of the citizenry in the anti-drug campaign by providing reliable information on illegal drug activities in exchange for monetary consideration through Operation: Private Eye (OPE).
Recalibrated campaign
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said more policemen will be deployed in the streets as part of the government’s recalibrated campaign against illegal drugs in line with President Marcos’ directive to go back to the grassroots level.
“Based on our operational strategy, there will be maximum police visibility in the streets because that is what the President wants,” PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said in a radio interview.
Fajardo said policemen will be doing patrols with “force multipliers” or the barangay personnel.
She said regional and provincial mobile forces personnel from areas that were already declared as having a stable peace and order situation will help in the conduct of anti-drug patrols.
Fajardo said the PNP will also enhance its collaboration with anti-drug abuse councils, especially with the barangays.
“We are going to capacitate them so they can fully understand that the campaign against illegal drugs is not just a function of the law enforcement agencies. This needs the cooperation of all agencies of government, especially in the communities,” she said.
She added the PNP will orient barangay, city, municipal, and even provincial local government personnel on how to detect drug pushers and users and even drug laboratories.
Fajardo clarified that the PNP has not stopped operations against street-level pushers and users. (PNA)
