Intensify anti-drugs operations, mayor urges police

Dumaguete Mayor- Felipe Antonio Remollo
(Photo from https://dumaguete.com/sandurot-festival-2017/dumaguete-mayor-felipe-antonio-remollo/)

DUMAGUETE CITY – Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo has directed the city police chief to intensify their operations against illegal drug suspects through house-to-house and barangay visitations.

Dumaguete Police chief, Supt. Jovito Atanacio, has reported to the mayor that 921 alleged drug personalities in this capital city have yielded to authorities under Oplan Tokhang (Toktok-Hangyo or knock and appeal), City Information Officer Dems Rey Demecillo said Tuesday.

Latest available police records showed that of the 921 surrenderers, 60 were “pushers” while the rest were “users”, Demecillo said.

Dumaguete has the most number of “drug surrenders” among the province’s six cities and 19 municipalities, he noted.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) had launched Oplan Double Barrel to fight the war against illegal drugs, with Oplan Tokhang implemented for police personnel to visit the homes of suspected drug personalities and convince them to surrender.

Oplan Taphang (Tapok-Hangyo or gather and ask), on the other hand, is a different approach where other stakeholders, such as barangay officials and the community, are engaged in the campaign against illegal drugs through information dissemination.

Meanwhile, City Hall officials and employees will undergo random drug tests in an apparent bid by the mayor to rid the local government unit of workers involved in the illegal use or trade of prohibited drugs.

Demecillo said the city government would require job applicants to submit to drug testing prior to hiring.

Also, three of the city’s 30 barangays have already been declared as “drug-cleared” — Poblacion 4, Poblacion 5 and Poblacion 7.

These villages have complied with the parameters set forth in Section 6 of Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 3 series of 2017 as evaluated and confirmed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Mayor Remollo, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the City Health Office.