Five barangays in Baguio City and La Trinidad, Benguet were declared drug-cleared by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC) on June 9.
The committee, chaired by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera Director Julius Paderes, said the barangays that obtained a drug-cleared status are Bakakeng Central, Irisan, Loakan Proper, Lourdes Subdivision Extension all in Baguio City, and Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet.
PDEA-CAR Information Officer Rosel Sarmiento said the basis for the declaration of a drug-cleared barangay is the submission of documents that supports its claim, which will then be assessed by the committee.
“Ang unang requirement ay dapat wala ng drug user at drug pusher sa barangay,” Sarmiento said.
Asked of the status of Irisan barangay where 570 kilograms of shabu were seized in March, Sarmiento said there are no longer drug users and drug pushers monitored in the area based on the documents submitted by the barangay and validated by the Philippine National Police.
She said those recently apprehended in drug raids were not residents of Irisan.
“When it comes to transient drug personalities, the barangay should have actions like eliminate or report these non-residents for their arrests. After which, the barangay would issue a barangay certification of their action,” she said.
Last March, authorities seized 575 kilos of shabu worth about P4 billion at Purok 4, Irisan and arrested a Chinese during the raid conducted by the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and the PDEA agents.
The ROCBDC also issued resolutions to 13 barangays that retained their drug-cleared status.
These are Colabaoan, San Juan, Abra; O-ong in Hingyon, Ifugao; Burnaya, Cudog, Montabiong, Poblacion East, Poblacion North, Poblacion South, Poblacion West, and Tungngod in Lagawe, Ifugao; and Maducayan, Poblacion, Saliok in Natonin, Mountain Province.
Nine Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils also received resolution in the absence of active drug personalities, which qualified them to apply for verification for a drug-free status. These are Daga, Guina-ang, Guinamgaman, Ili, Katablangan, Mawigue, Nabuangan, Puguin, and Talifao, all in Conner, Apayao. – Ofelia C. Empian
