TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- The Regional Oversight Committee of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 2 declared on Thursday, February 15, 19 barangays of Nueva Vizcaya province free from illegal drugs.
In a press release from Police Regional Office 02 (PRO2), Regional Police Community Relations Division said 10 of these barangays are drug-cleared which include barangays Balzain, Kimbutan, Caralotan, Palabotan and Kanabay in Dupax del Sur town; barangays Poblacion and Kabuluan in Villaverde; barangays Ammoweg and Salinsingan of Ambaguio town; and barangay Baan in Kayapa.
Meanwhile, nine barangays were declared drug-free. These are barangays Talbek, Abaca, Banila, Sunguit, Lukidnon at Biruk in Dupax Del Sur; barangay Ocapon of Villaverde; barangays Pampang and Castillo Village in Kayapa town.
The barangays were declared drug free and drug cleared after completing requisites for ‘Barangay Drug-Clearing’ under Section 8 of the Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 3 Series of 2017.
A drug-free community means there are no supply of illegal drugs, no drug pushers, users nor addicts, police said.
The declaration was led by PRO2 Regional Director Chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino and PDEA 2 Regional Director Laurefel Gabales.
The declaration ceremony was also attended by Department of Interior and Local Government 02 Director Jonathan Paul Leusen, Department of Health 02 Regional Director Valeriano Jesus Lopez, PRO2 Deputy Regional Director for Operation Senior Superintendent John Cornelius Jambora, and Nueva Vizcaya Police Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Leumar Abugan.
Espino said in the release that this only proves the government is gradually meeting its goal of eradicating illegal drugs in the region.
The PRO2 director also ordered police officers to “double” their efforts in order to end the problem on illegal drugs. “We must drive out pushers and users in our community and we have to be inhospitable to illegal drugs,” Espino added.
Meanwhile, some barangays in Enrile and Rizal towns of Cagayan province are set to be declared drug-free on Monday, February 26, after passing the final validation of PDEA’s Regional Oversight Committee. Northernforum.net