Drug-affected barangays down to 7,004 – PDEA

MANILA, Philippines — The number of barangays that remain drug-affected is down to 7,004, data released by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Wednesday night showed.

Up to 28,511 barangays nationwide are now cleared of illegal drugs, with the number going down by 2.46 percent compared to 7,181 in April.

At least 88,280 suspects have been arrested in 64,865 anti-drug operations across the country since President Marcos assumed office. The PDEA said 5,894 of the suspects were listed as ”high-value” targets.

Up to 8,356 kilos of shabu, cocaine and marijuana as well as 55,078 pieces of party drug Ecstasy were confiscated. The estimated value of the seized drugs was pegged at P34.1 billion.

Meanwhile, dried marijuana leaves and cannabis plants with an estimated value of P106 million were destroyed in Tinglayan, Kalinga on Monday and Tuesday, the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) reported yesterday.

PDEG director Brig. Gen. Dionisio Bartolome Jr. said the illegal drugs were discovered during an operation in Mt. Chumanchil in Barangay Loccong.

Members of PDEG and other police units found 500 kilos of marijuana leaves and 100,000 cannabis plants with an estimated value of P80 million on Monday.

On Tuesday, police raided another marijuana plantation in the same barangay where illegal drugs estimated at P26 million were seized.

Bartolome said the cultivators of the marijuana plantations eluded arrest.

Meanwhile, Jarry Badillo was arrested for alleged possession of 50 grams of shabu valued at P340,000 in Barangay Sta. Ana in Taytay, Rizal yesterday.