PNP doubt bid for drug-free villages achievable

                                            After Rody nixed narc war

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

URDANETA CITY – Top police officials doubt that the target of a dangerous drug free in a huge province this month could be achieved after President Rodrigo Duterte stopped the Philippine National Police as the lead agency on the narcotics war that resulted to thousands of suspected drug pushers and user dead nationwide.

Superintendent Norman Florentino, police provincial spokesman, said that the bid of the PNP to make Pangasinan this month as drug free is doubtful to be achieved.

“Mukhang alanganin as of today (February 17) nasa 219 na lang (out of 1,364 villages in Pangasinan) iyong natitira, kaunti na lang sila (It is not certain to be achievable. As of today (February 17) we have 219 villages to be cleared out of the 1,364 barangays. Only a modicum remains to be cleared),” the spokesman said.

In January this year Supt. Jackie Candelario, the PNP Deputy Provincial Director for Operation, said that the 1,364 barangays in the 4 cities and 44 towns province will be declared narcotics free in the end of February this year.

““We are positive na maki-clear natin and buong Pangasinan sa illegal drugs sa katapusan ng Pebrero,” Candelario told the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas’ forum.

The chief of police of Dagupan City, an independent city of Pangasinan, explained to a radio program the sluggish action of the police versus illegal drug pushers.

“May instruction ang pamunaan ng national police, continue pa rin ang intelligence gathering kaya lang ipaubaya natin ang iniatiative sa PDEA, inalisan kami temporarily na mag conduct ng buy bust and search warrant because of the incident involving Korean Jee Ick Joo,” Miro said.

Miro doubts the eight members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency  assigned in Pangasinan leading the war where many of them have to attend court cases related to their previous drug operation.

“Saka pag nakahuli sila ng 50 (suspected narcotics pushers) wala ng gagawin ang PDEA kundi mag a-attend na lang ng court hearings. Mauubos na ang oras sa court hearings”.

Because of the suspension of the fight on drugs, Miro and Florentino said some sightings have been reported about the return of some pushers on those drug free villages.

“Actually, may mga reported na tayo diyan ngayon. Kaya lang pag abot ng panahon babalik na naman sila. Mahirap mag simula,” Miro said.

“Hinde natin maalis iyan, pero nandoon sa ground pa rin iyong mga police para ma monitor ang mga iyan,” Florentino explained.

The Dagupan City’s chief of police lamented that the suspension of the drug war was a blow to the PNP’s fight against drug pushers that was gearing to a successful conclusion.

“Kung sino lang sana ang nagkasala sa PNP iyon lang sana ang parusahan like Dumlao and Sta. Isabel. 170,000 strong police, nagkasala iyong dalawa lang,” by referring to Police Superintendent  Rafael Dumlao III and SP0-3 Ricky Sta. Isabel who were suspected to kidnap and murdered Jee Ick-Joo while have the gall to fleece five million pesos from the wife of the South Korean despite killing him already.

The two police officers used drug’s war as pretext to the abduction.

Florentino cited the PNP in the province are preoccupied now on the seven focused crimes that are murder, homicide, thief, robbery, carnapping, physical and rape.

Aside from the seven focused crimes, Florentino said the police waged war on illegal gambling after the war on drug was put by the president at the back burner