5 towns in Pangasinan declared drug-free but...

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The police chiefs of five Pangasinan towns have declared their respective turfs as drug-free, but their claims will still be validated to avoid any embarrassment, the provincial police director said.

The police heads of the municipalities of Agno, Anda, Burgos, Infanta and San Manuel made the assessment during a command conference at the provincial police headquarters here the other day.

But Senior Superintendent Mario Sandiego, Pangasinan police director, said their claims will be cross-checked with the mayors and barangay officials of the five towns and non-government organizations.

According to Sandiego, the Pangasinan police scored 52 percent in its fight against illegal drugs vis-a-vis the 60-percent target imposed by Camp Crame on all police commands nationwide.

Superintendent Edgar Basbas, deputy provincial director for operations, said the police in the following towns have met the 60-percent goal: Bolinao, Mabini, Sual, Binmaley, Bugallon, Bayambang, Mapandan, Sta. Barbara, Sto. Tomas and Sta. Maria.

Basbas said 79 of 168 drug-affected barangays in the province still need to be cleared of the menace by December. He is optimistic though that the goal will be met.

As of Sept. 15, police had neutralized 266 of 514 suspected drug personalities in the province.

"They have learned their lesson because last month I relieved six non-performing police chiefs," Sandiego said.