Coastal areas monitored vs drug smuggling

CEBU, Philippines- Regulation of wharfs and monitoring of motor bancas going to and from coastal barangays in Cebu City are the main concerns of authorities in their continuing campaign against illegal drugs.

This after Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency -7 were surprised to confiscate big amount of illegal drugs even with the tightened security at airports and sea ports, saying that drug syndicates might smuggle contrabands through coastal barangays.

With this, the Police Coordinating Advisory Council (PCAC) conducted their meeting yesterday in Barangay Pasil, one of the 16 coastal barangays in the city along with the invited barangays Sawang Calero and Suba.

City Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella said regulation is the key to monitor transactions in coastal barangays.

“This is an eye opener nga atong nadungog ang mga barangay captains sa Pasil, Suba, ug Sawang Calero. Nadungog nato nga ang drogas problema gyud kaayo dinhi,” he said.

Labella, who chairs PCAC, said it was learned in the meeting that coastal areas are not being monitored by barangay officials.

He said there were suggestions to train barangay tanods on how to watch and inspect pump boats coming from different barangays, island provinces, or islets.

PDEA-7 director Espirideon Javier apprised coastal barangay captains of the need for assistance in the fight against illegal drugs.

“Kailangan na ang activation of your respective barangay anti-drug abuse councils and dapat din i-improve iyong security measures ng mga barangays,” Javier said, adding that barangays are supposed to gather information on illegal drug trades in their respective areas.

Pasil Barangay Captain Julius Guioguio said there have been lesser pumpboats seen in his barangay.

He said they are not monitoring their coastal area anymore, saying that they are more focused on the problems of his constituents.

Guioguio, along with Sawang Calero Barangay Captain Ariel Yburan and Suba Barangay Captain Jojo Sable, are amenable to pursuing a resolution to collect landing fee in coastal areas.

The barangay captains asked the help of the city government through the Bantay Dagat Task Force.  —/NSA) (FREEMAN)