ILOILO CITY -- The Capiz Police is targeting to have the province cleared of illegal drugs starting third quarter towards end of 2018.
In an interview Friday, Capiz Police Director, Senior Supt. Samuel Nacion, said they are now focused on the barangay drug-clearing operation that was temporarily hampered by the preparations they did for the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Nacion said to date, 11 barangays in Capiz have been declared as free from illegal drugs. These are barangays Agtambi, Quinabcaban and Quinayuya in Dao town; barangays Olalo and Tabun-acan in Pilar; and barangays Acbo, Tawog, Dayhagon, Mansacul, Matangcong and Bangonbangon in Sigma.
He added that these barangays were never affected by drugs.
The villages also underwent validation by the Regional Oversight Committee composed of the departments of health and interior, Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The provincial director added that they are closely coordinating with concerned agencies relative to their drug-clearing effort. They also continue to monitor drug personalities who will be subjected to operations and are preparing the documents of additional barangays to be validated by the Regional Oversight Committee.
The Capiz Police has recorded 5,525 drug surrenderers, who need to undergo rehabilitation that is being facilitated by the local government unit where they came from and assisted by the PNP, and the departments of health and social welfare.
Meanwhile, the PDEA has already declared 145 barangays in the region as cleared of illegal drugs.
A validation of 200 pending applications was conducted on Monday. Results will be known in a week. (PNA)
