PDEA-Cordillera winning battle vs. illegal drugs

BAGUIO CITY -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Cordillera (PDEA-CAR) has reported that President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on illegal drugs has partially resolved the marijuana production problem in the entire country, particularly in the Cordillera, with the reduction in the number of provinces known to be the source of marijuana aside from the decreasing number of affected barangays.

PDEA-CAR Regional Director Edgar Apalla said that prior to the President’s drug war there were four provinces -- Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, and Kalinga -- identified as the source of high-grade marijuana.

He said that at present, it is only Mount Chumanchil in Tinglayan, Kalinga that turned out positive during the marijuana eradication operations conducted by personnel of the PDEA, Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Aside from that, Apalla also said that currently there are only eight barangays remaining in the category of drug-affected villages in the region. Six are in Baguio and two in Benguet.

He added that there were a number of barangays which were earlier cleared but were monitored to have a resurgence of illegal drugs.

Apalla said that they have conducted an earlier drug clearing operations in the different barangays to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs in communities and promote the involvement of local villages in stopping drug trafficking and abuse.

Apalla relayed that the modus operandi of drug peddlers are direct purchase of marijuana from planters, some sellers pose as local tourists, use of minors to avoid arrest and bank to bank transactions for payment. Marijuana is also transported outside the region using public utility bus and private vehicles rented by drug peddlers.

He reiterated that the shabu being sold in the terrain of Cordillera is from Pangasinan, Region 3, National Capital Region, New Bilibid Prison, and Calabarzon or Region 4-A.

Apalla said Cordillera is one of the least drug affected regions in the country. “We are far better than other regions because of drug clearing campaign,” he said. (PNA)