Barangay Forbes Park to hold anti-illegal drugs campaign

Members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) would soon be returning to a posh barangay in Makati City. This time, not to apprehend another resident for illegal drug use but to hold an anti-illegal drugs seminar.

In a recent telephone interview with Jose Concepcion, chairman of Barangay Forbes Park, he said that he is considering inviting PDEA officials back to their community to improve the level of awareness on illegal drugs.

This, he said, is in response to last Thursday’s drug raid inside the posh village where PDEA arrested six persons engaged in a pot session inside a residential house. The PDEA also confiscated from the group an undetermined amount of illegal drugs such as shabu, marijuana and hashish.

Arrested were Segundo Reyes, alias Sec, 51; his brother Jose Reyes III; his son Jose IV, 22; Josephone Quipo, 44; Domilyn Mitchell, 22; and Frank Morato, 53.

Concepcion said that it was the first time that a drug den had been busted in their area and he vowed to take measures to prevent a repeat of such incident.

"I will ask the PDEA because they have a lot of exposure on this. They are competent and they can teach us how the residents can spot a drug dependent or if their neighbors are involved in the illegal drug trade," he said.

Concepcion admitted that exclusive villages, especially in areas where residents do not mind the business of their neighbors and have their own security guards to protect them, could become a favorite hiding place of big time drug dealers.

"In a way," he added, "I am grateful. I am glad that it came out in public because it would enable us to review their current status."

Concepcion also plans to distribute letters to all members of the homeowners association and solicit their cooperation in the anti-illegal drugs campaign.

He appealed to homeowners to be observant and vigilant in determining if they have family members or even household helpers who are hooked on drugs.

"If they require counseling, there are priests and pastors who are willing to render their assistance," he added.

Concepcion also disclosed that 60 percent of households in Forbes Park are composed of helpers. "They know what is happening in the house, we are encouraging them to share information."

He cited the Reyes’ case as an example. The six helpers allegedly knew their employers were drug dependents but never reported it to barangay officials. The PDEA invited them for questioning.

Allan Aberilla, administrator of Barangay Forbes Park, said some seven to 10 PDEA operatives went back to the Reyes residence and invited for questioning Dolor Galo, 32; Joel Apiag, 31; Lina Migrino, 46; Rubylin Apiag, 21; the cook, Joy Bug-os, 41; and the gardener, Eduardo Robles, 55.

The Reyeses have been living in the barangay for years but they hardly attend homeowners meeting and are not fond of socializing with their neighbors, Concepcion added.