By Juancho Gallarde/PNA
DUMAGUETE CITY – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Negros Oriental is urging barangay officials to cooperate in the government’s anti-illegal drugs war by submitting the lists of drug personalities in their respective areas.
Barangay officials, who wantonly refuse to submit these lists, claiming fear of reprisals, may be categorized as coddlers or drug protectors, the PDEA said.
The statement was issued Wednesday by PDEA provincial head agent Grace Cruz after the recent three-day enhancement skills training for members of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADACs) initiated by the Liga ng mga Barangay led by Motong village chief Dionie Amores.
Cruz explained that PDEA and the police have their own list of drug personalities in every barangay that will be compared and verified with the list coming from their respective BADACs.
She said village leaders should be the first to know and identify individuals who are supposedly engaged in the illegal sale, manufacture, or distribution of illegal drugs.
Cruz said if a known drug personality is not listed in the barangay where he or she resides, PDEA will have reasons to believe the entire set of barangay officials including the BADAC are either protectors or drug coddlers and that the report will be submitted to the higher authorities.
According to her, the village officials are also required to submit names of transients in their respective jurisdictions.
