TACLOBAN CITY – Despite the region’s position as strategic transshipment point, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Director Julius Navales said that the situation of illegal drug problem in the region especially in Leyte is still manageable.
Navales, who was invited by members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during their session on Tuesday informed the members of the provincial board that Leyte there are 150 barangays that are “moderately affected” by illegal drugs while 62 barangays are” slightly affected.”
Moderately affected means there is a presence of one illegal drug-pusher while slightly affected is there is no presence of drug pusher.
Navales added that 16 out of 41 municipalities and one city in the province has no anti-illegal drug operation.
According to Navales, it is either the mayor or other local officials that are not cooperating on their operation to stop illegal drugs.
Moreover, Navales urged members of the Philippine National Police to always coordinate with their agency when conducting anti-illegal drug operation.
Failure to get coordination papers from PDEA might result for the dismissal of case filed against person apprehended on anti-illegal drug operation, according to Navales.
Although they had been advocating and continuously informing police operatives in said process, Navales revealed that still they receive few request from law enforcers on request for coordination papers.
Navales added that in 2010, 30 individuals where arrested due to illegal drugs while in 2011 48 were arrested.
Thirty-two cases were filed in court in 2010 while 50 cases were filed in court in 2011.
He added that conviction rate on cases filed against person apprehended due to illegal drugs is very minimal due to technicality of the case filed.
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