Cops not taking chances on drugs this Christmas

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu Provincial Police Office will tighten its campaign against illegal drugs this Christmas season, contending there is a possibility that proliferation will intensify with the volume of people returning to their provinces.

"Ang ato gitan-aw diha is ang conglomeration of people man gud because mag-uliay ang mga tawo sa tagsa ka probinsya. The more people grouping together, there is a high probability na ma-involve ang illegal drugs," said Superintendent Rodolfo Albotra, chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

Another factor for demand for illegal drugs to go up, Albotra said, is financial capability with the release of Christmas bonuses.

"So we expect that and we are preparing for that and we are instituting measures to prevent proliferation of drugs by conducting aggressive police operations," he said.

Aside from their continuous police operations, Albotra said they are also coordinating with the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Commission on their plan to conduct more symposiums and information drive on the ill effects of illegal drugs in the grassroots level.

"We are trying to clear every barangays from drug affectations," said Albotra.

He said more and more civilians have cooperated with authorities in the information campaign on illegal drugs.

"More people are now concerned, more people are now involved in the fight against illegal drugs. Makita nato nga naa gyu'y participation that's why more operations are conducted and more people are arrested," he said.

The Cebu Provincial Police has confiscated at least P73 million worth of shabu from January to November this year. The figure is three times higher than the P20 million worth of illegal drugs the office confiscated in the same period last year.

Last September, CPPO was awarded by the Philippine National Police as the top performing police office in the country in the campaign against illegal drugs.

Albotra said even with this accomplishment, they still could not say that the Cebu Province is already free from illegal drugs

"Makaingon man gyud ta nga affected because a mere presence of such pusher or user, such area is already affected," he said. —/JMO (FREEMAN)