Police seek help in anti-drug fight

CEBU, Philippines - Police officials in the region are asking for the support of the prosecutors and local government officials in fight against the illegal drugs.

Senior Supt. Louie Oppus, head of the Operation and Plans division of Police Regional Office-7, said the drug problem in the region could not be solved by the police alone and they would need the help of everybody.

Oppus said that implementation of programs and operations to control the sale and use of illegal drugs are under the office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

“PDEA was created because it is the only registered agency to work on drugs but other law enforcement agencies are allowed to make drug operations in relation prior to the operation of PDEA,” he explained.

However, Oppus said the arrests of the drug users and pushers by the police and PDEA is just a part of the solution to the problem because the suspects still need to be criminally charged in court.

As far as he is concerned, Oppus said he only knows at least one or two prosecutors who are supporting the fight against drugs.

Aside from the prosecutors, the support of the LGUs and government officials are also very crucial, he added.

Newly installed PRO-7 director Federico Terte said the LGUs play a big role in the campaign and could help in trimming the number of drug users and pushers.

“Hindi lang ang police at ang law enforcers ang makakasugpo sa mga drug pushers at users na ito, kundi lahat ng miyembro sa society,” Terte said.

For his part, David Mark Maramba of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said the illegal drug has become a common problem in Cebu, but it is manageable.

Maramba said they acknowledge the assistance of the PNP because at present, they are still in the process of capability build up and are still in need of more agents. — AJ de la Torre/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)