31 Tarlac villages still hounded by drug menace

CAMP MAKABULOS, Tarlac — Thirty-one Tarlac villages are still affected by the illegal drug menace, and the provincial police vowed to sweep them clean of illegal substances before the year ends.

In a report to Gov. Jose Yap Sr., Senior Superintendent Angelo Sunglao, Tarlac police director, said they have "eliminated" drug pushing since last January in at least 18 barangays earlier tagged as "affected" or "threatened."

According to Sunglao, a village is considered "affected" if there is at least one drug pusher there.

In July last year, he said 134 barangays were categorized as such. The number dwindled to 49 by the end of 2003.

During the first half of 2004, Sunglao said there were more than 60 anti-illegal drug operations in 18 barangays, resulting in the arrest of 84 suspected drug pushers and users.

This feat, he said, earned for the provincial police the reputation of being the most active in the anti-illegal drug campaign among provincial police commands in Central Luzon.

Sunglao said they are "doing everything to reduce to the barest minimum the drug problem in the province." — Benjie Villa