PDEA-7 to field undercover agents in bars for Sinulog

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will assign undercover agents at the party venues, including bars, during the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City.

This aims to prevent the incident last year when a 19-year-old girl reportedly died due to an alleged ecstasy drug overdose during a concert on the eve of the Sinulog Festival.

PDEA-7 Director Wardley Getalla said they are now working closely with the police and the City Government of Cebu.

During the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday, Getalla said they are also committing their K9 narcotics sniffing dogs to conduct sweeping in party places to ensure that no party drugs and other kind of drugs will be sneaked into the party venues.

He said bars, which are reportedly frequented by minors, are included in the operations.

“We are intensifying our intelligence operations by assigning undercover agents during the Sinulog to ensure no drug pushers will take advantage of the situation by selling drugs to visiting tourists as well as to the locals,” Getalla said.

He also urged the pilgrims and visitors to report any drug incident to authorities.

“We will ensure that no citizens of Cebu will take advantage of the Sinulog Festival to use drugs,” he said.

Last year, PDEA-7 intensified its operation against party drugs during the Sinulog festivities by deploying five K9 units and by conducting inspections in crowded areas and big party places.

However, on the eve of the Sinulog Festival, Ashley Abad,19, died after reportedly taking a party drug ecstasy during a concert.

The family suspected that someone spiked the girl’s drink with the party drug or forced her to take it since the teen was not a drug user.

She was said to have collapsed in the middle of the event and was attended to by medical personnel of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation. She passed away at the hospital in the afternoon of the Sinulog Festival. Banat News Copy Editor, KQD (FREEMAN)