Caloocan to tap drug users’ kin

MANILA, Philippines - Barangay officials in Caloocan will ask the relatives of known illegal drug users to help the city government put them in rehabilitation centers.

The announcement came a week after the alleged “shabu queen” of Caloocan City was arrested in Balintawak. Police identified her Editha Morales, who is also known as “Madam” or “Tikba” of Bagong Barrio.

Morales was nabbed for reportedly selling P16,000 worth of shabu to undercover police officers last Tuesday. She will also be charged for the P200,000 worth of illegal drugs recovered inside her black Ford Focus.

Senior Police Officer 1 Don Gatdula of the Caloocan police’s anti-illegal drug unit described Morales as “a known drug peddler” in Bagong Barrio. He said Morales was also on the watchlist of several police stations and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

In a statement, the city government said the move to tap the kin of drug users is part of a plan crafted by the Liga ng mga Barangay to address the city’s “persistent” problem on illegal drugs.

The plan will be implemented by strengthening Caloocan’s Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council. Through it, the local government will coordinate with barangay officials to step up the arrests of suspected drug addicts.

Watchmen were also tasked to strictly implement the city’s curfew as a way to prevent teenagers from getting hooked on drugs.