RUN VS. DRUGS. The winners and runners pose with Noveleta Mayor Dino Reyes Chua and Police Capt. Rosalino Panlaqui, local police chief during the awarding ceremony of the 'Takbo Noveleta Fun Run' Saturday, August 31, 2019 at the town plaza. (PNA photo by Dennis Abrina)
NOVELETA, Cavite -- Some 600 Noveleta residents joined on Saturday the "Takbo Noveleta" fun run to raise awareness against illegal drugs with the theme: "Takbo Noveleta, sa salot na droga tayo ay malaya na."
Mayor Dino Reyes Chua led the ceremony together with Police Capt. Rosalino Panlaqui, local police chief here as they celebrated as the first town in the 1st District of Cavited to be declared by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as drug cleared.
"Itong fun run po na ito ay para ipaalam sa ating mga kababayan na ang Noveleta po ay 'drug free' na (This fun run is to let our constituents that Noveleta is already 'drug free'). But it doesn't mean na mag-stop na po tayo dito. Syempre dire-diretso parin po ang ating campaign against illegal drugs (But it doesn't mean that it would stop here. Of course, we will continue our campaign against illegal drugs)," Panlaqui said in an interview.
" Kung meron pong susulpot pa na mga illegal drugs, patuloy po ang ating puwersa ng kapulisan sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga barangay natin (If there would surface any illegal drugs trade, our police force would get rid of them with the help of our barangay officials)," Panlaqui added.
The 2.5 kilometers fun run started in Barangay San Rafael IV (El Palacio Hotel and Resort) up to the town plaza at 6 a.m.
The participants to the event included members of PNP, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, municipal employees, village chiefs of 16 barangays led by Liga ng Barangay president Rolando Reyes and officials of the Noveleta Department of Education and several students.
"Huwag na po natin hayaan makabalik sa ating bayan ang mga pushers. Meron po tayong PNP Textline para isumbong ang mga pushers, adik at masasamang elemento sa ating bayan para manatiling 'drug free' ang bayan ng Noveleta (Don't let pushers to return our town. There is the PNP Textline where we could report pushers, addicts and criminals in town to maintain Noveleta 'drug free')," Chua said in his speech during the awarding ceremony.
Immuel Camino of Tejero, General Trias City clinched first place; Nobera Cailao, the second place while African Joseph Mururi got the third place in the 2.5 km race.
Garnet Datu, 4, of Brgy. Magdiwang, won the youngest runner category while Eugenio Ida, 72 of Brgy. San Juan won the oldest runner entry. (PNA)
