Now hitting epidemic proportions: Drug problem highest in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte declared on Wednesday that drug problem in the Philippines has reached epidemic proportions and Cebu has the highest rate in the country.

 The declaration baffled local officials on what basis the president has in coming up with such conclusion.

Speaking before more than 6,000 councilors at the Philippine Councilors' League 10th National Congress at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Duterte claimed that the drug epidemic has now affected four million Filipinos.

"Ngayon, ‘yung iba diyan 40 percent of the total barangay captains of the entire Philippines may tama sa shabu, about 6,000 policemen," Duterte was quoted in an abs-cbnnews.com report.

"Cebu has the highest rate of --- hindi nila alam ‘to, for the first time sinasabi ko. Mag-abot siguro ng… Sabi ng nandiyan sa loob… But I think it’s about 60, 70. Mahirap tanggalin ang pera," he added.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III has questioned the basis of the president.

“I don’t believe nga Cebu lang. Manila diay ug uban pang metropolitan areas?” Davide  said.

The governor doubts the accuracy of the data received by Duterte.

 “I can’t say for certain if the figures or data are correct. Who fed the president that data? Where did he get the figure?” Davide said.

 Davide said he will check with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 whether the figure was really accurate.

But PDEA-7 director Yogi Felimon Ruiz said the data did not come from them.

 The governor, however, admitted that 80 percent of the more than 1,000 barangays of the province are affected by illegal drugs.

“Di man nato ikalimod nga daghan mga users and pushers sa Cebu…eighty percent of the barangays are affected. That’s really one concern nato that’s why bitaw we are serious with our campaign against illegal drugs,” he said.

 The Cebu Provincial Anti-Drugs Abuse Office (CPADAO) reported during the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting last Wednesday that 943 out of 1,066 barangays in the province are affected by drugs.

CPADAO also announced recently that 128 barangays are now considered drug-free. A formal declaration will be made soon by Davide.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Board guidelines, a drug-free barangay is declared when there is no more illegal drugs available there; it is not being used as a drug transit or transshipment point; it has no illegal drug laboratory, chemical drug warehouse, or a marijuana cultivation site; and it has no resorts or other places being used as drug dens.

 Absence of drug pushers, users or dependents as well as of protectors or coddlers and financiers is another consideration before a village can be classified as drug-free.

 Nevertheless, Davide said the Capitol will work harder to address the reported high drug rate in the province.

 “We still have a lot of work to do with our campaign against illegal drugs. That’s really a lot of work to be done. Angay gyod nato pun-an ang atong pagka-agresibo sa kampanya batok illegal nga droga. We support the president’s war on drugs,” he said.

Alarming

Ruiz considered the situation as alarming considering that the president has access to all information.

“I take it as alarming, being the director of the lead agency in the fight against drugs, it is time mag-request additional personnel, also on logistics, atong operational capability. Kay considering PDEA is catering to the whole region, pila ra kabuok atong personnel,” Ruiz said.

He added that despite the statement, he will take it as a challenge to double the effort in putting an end to any illegal-drug business.

Ruiz promised to work double time to solve the drug problem in Central Visayas, especially in Cebu.

He said more personnel are needed to be deployed in port areas because he believes that Cebu serves as the transshipment point of drugs from Mindanao and Eastern Visayas.

Ruiz said additional K-9 dogs and personnel should be on duty to prevent drug trades to enter the main city.

“Dapat before maabot diri sa Cebu, dapat it should be inspected na. Kami ang PDEA is serious in this fight,” he said.

In fact, the drug supply in Cebu has allegedly dwindled as indicated in the value of drugs sold on the streets.

He said the street value of drugs has soared from P6,500 to at most P15,000 per bulk or a pack of 5 grams. Ruiz said they have already identified the people involved.

 “Atong imbestigasyon karon nagkalawom na, na determine nato kung kinsa sila, naa man gani ta na notice nga ang mga sindikato di na mouli sa ilang gipamuy-an.  They are trying to transfer from one place to another aron di nato sila matultulan, sauna naa ra sila diha, they are feeling untouchable karon wa nay untouchable aning gobyernoha. This is something na nakita nato nga indicator nga apektado sila,” Ruiz said.

Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño agreed with the president.

“I’m agreeing to it, mataas ang rate ng both drug pushers and users natin sa illegal drugs,” he said.

But Taliño said they are gradually addressing the problem through Oplan Tokhang. He said over 105,000 drug personalities have already surrendered while over 6,000 were arrested.--with Le Phyllis F. Antojado, Mae Clydyl L. Avila and Mylen P. Manto (FREEMAN)