PDEA continues barangay drug clearing program

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and local officials have conducted house-to-house visits on 15 drug surrenderees in Brgy. Lorega, Cebu City to check if they have reverted to their old ways or not.

The house-to-house visits are part of the PDEA’s Barangay Drug Clearing Program as mandated by President Rodrigo Duterte.

PDEA 7 director Levi Ortiz and his personnel were accompanied by the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap) and by Brgy. Lorega officials led by Fritzgerald Herrera.

Herrera told reporters they decided to visit the 15 drug surrenderees to determine if they have left the drug trade after surrendering to authorities in 2016.

Herrera said before the nationwide crackdown against illegal drugs, his barangay had 200 identified drug pushers and users.

When Duterte came to power in 2016, those identified immediately surrendered to barangay officials as a way to clear their names.

But even after surrendering, some of the identified drug pushers and users still returned to their illegal ways.

The majority of those who have returned to a life of crime were those who availed of the court-mandated plea bargaining agreement for drug offenders.

“Some of them would just appear in my office to clear themselves but afterward, they wouldn’t undergo aftercare and rehabilitation services. That’s why we need to strictly implement the barangay drug clearing program,” Herrera said.

Berto (real name withheld), one of those visited by PDEA personnel, told reporters that ever since he surrendered, he has not returned to illegal drugs.

Berto, who was known in the barangay as a drug seller, said he decided to leave illegal drugs for good due to his family.

Ortiz thanked Herrera for proactively continuing the barangay drug clearing program in Lorega.

He also warned barangays that failed to comply with Duterte’s mandate that their officials could face administrative sanctions.

Cosap head Jonah John Rodriguez said that two out of 80 of the city’s barangays have not cooperated with the PDEA’s programs against illegal drugs. He did not name the two barangays. (AYB, BBT / JKV)