BACOLOD CITY — The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) is set to form a task force that will monitor entry points especially in seaports across the province.
The task force is seen to strengthen the monitoring of the entry of contraband, particulary illegal drugs, in Negros Occidental. It will be comprised of personnel from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and other concerned government agencies.
According to the police report released this week, illegal drugs coming from Muntinlupa in Metro Manila, Cebu and Mindanao are being transported through various outside-points in Negros Occidental.
A Nocppo report indicated that drugs sourced from Cebu pass through the cities of San Carlos and Escalante in the north while the supply from Mindanao enters Bais City in Negros Oriental going to Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental and other points in the province.
Senior Supt. Rodolfo Castil Jr., police provincial director, had earlier said that the illegal drug situation in the province is not alarming since drug supply merely passes through its localities.
Castil said in a presentation to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last Wednesday that there is no truth to reports that illegal drugs come from Negros Occidental.
Last month, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Western Visayas stated that illegal drug problem in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, is more “alarming” compared to the provinces in Panay Island.
However, Castil said he doesn’t want to compare the status of Negros Occidental with that of Iloilo since the province has its own concern.
Moreover, Nocppo reported that an average of five kilograms of illegal drugs are circulating in the province estimated to be worth about PHP50 million.
Castil said that after the resumption of “Oplan Tokhang”, the average circulation and apprehension and confiscation increased since some of the previous targets have surfaced again.
As of end-2017, almost 1.79 kilograms of illegal drugs were intercepted in Negros Occidental, he added.
These include the .931 kilograms seized at Dumangas Port in Iloilo; .593 kilograms at San Carlos City Port; .and 263 kilograms at Silay City through a courier service company. (Erwin Nicavera/PNA)
