Mandaue heightens campaign vs drugs

CEBU, Philippines – The Mandaue City Police Office is intensifying its campaign against illegal drugs by coordinating with the barangays in the city.

MCPO chief, Senior Superintendent Mariano Natu-el Jr., said police personnel come to the barangays and activate the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC).

Natu-el said the BADAC helps in curtailing the use of illegal drugs in the barangay.

"Ang ila (buhaton) i-identify nila ang mga area nga haven sa illegal drugs, i-identify nila ang mga users and pushers in their area. They will make a program also nga ma-reform sad ang mga users," Natu-el said.

The city director also said the Mandaue City government will award barangays that make "big effort against illegal drugs."

Meanwhile, Natu-el said they did not receive reports that there are big-time personalities involved in illegal drugs in the city just yet and added there is no shabu laboratory in Mandaue.

However, Natu-el said that if they receive any intelligence reports that shabu laboratories are existing in the city, they will immediately make an action to stop the laboratories' operations.

He also added that the police will not hesitate to apprehend those who are involved in illegal drugs operations, including politicians.

Natu-el said illegal drug users and pushers cannot really do much in Mandaue City because the area is more "industrial or commercial."

Last August, the MCPO confiscated a total of 55.32 grams of shabu worth P652,792. The police also arrested 16 alleged illegal drug users, but only one alleged drug peddler.

The biggest volume of confiscated drugs was from Basak Police Station, particularly in Barangay Pagsabungan.

The police seized 37.9 grams of shabu from two raids conducted. The confiscated drugs were worth P447,220 based on the Dangerous Drugs Board.

Last Saturday, operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Subangdaku Police Station also arrested a man who was caught carrying 50 small sachets of shabu.

Jelito Villarta, of legal age, of Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City was caught by police personnel during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Tipolo.