“Criminals are not welcome in Region 7.”

The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC-7) strongly resounds this glaring call from both Gov. Edgar M. Chatto of Bohol and Cebu governor Hilario Davide III. Both provincial chief executives firmly made known their stand, reiterating what the whole council stands for. Davide said that “although we should be thankful that we are not undergoing the same experience as what Mindanao is now having, we should never be complacent and must always be on our guard.” He said that everyone, from PTAs to fraternities, sororities, down to the barangays, should always be vigilant. “The simplest lessons in Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) which we have learned in school apply; whether we are dealing with simple gangs right in our own neighborhood or with multi-million dollar syndicates in the community,” Davide added.

For his part, Chatto adjoined that “everyone must be involved in strengthening our community spirit and empowering our people where we start and begin at the foundation of all standard behavior; that is, loving everyone else as we love ourselves.” Amidst reports that the CPP/NPA/NDF is ardently eyeing the two provinces, especially Bohol, in their recovery efforts, both chief executives are quite confident that the rebels’ plans would just go awry, considering the close monitoring that the PNP and the Armed Forces are giving the region. However, the report of Regional Director Lyndon Aspacio of PDEA RO-7 caused everyone to turn in their seats when he said that all provinces in the region, that is, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, each have its own transshipment points of the illegal drugs trade: like Liloan and Argao in Cebu; Sibulan and Tampi, San Jose in Negros Oriental; Larena in Siquijor; and the towns of Tubigon, Loon, Loay, Getafe, Bien Unido and Talibon, and Tagbilaran City, all in Bohol.

Aspacio informed everyone that shabu, which is still the number one drug of choice in the region, is also being taken by users in Bohol to help them sleep; and this caused quite a stir. “Our office has even received reports that operations involving the backyard cultivation of marijuana plants are now being done in Bohol and Negros Oriental,” Aspacio added. Aspacio continued that the use of network to cause the down line movement in the distribution of items and collection of remittance is now being utilized like the use of middlemen and runners known as “parok;” the utilization of the RORO system and small sea crafts in the interisland transport of illegal drugs; and even the use of private vehicles and PUVs. In Bohol, a sachet of shabu, according to Aspacio, is priced at P300, where a 5-gram pack now costs at least P25,000. Aspacio also gave out the information that the illegal drugs now circulating in the region have either Manila or Mindanao as their points of origin, where Cebu City and Danao City of Cebu are identified as its landing points.

Suspected marijuana plantation sites are reportedly located in Cebu Province, specifically in the towns of Balamban, Dalaguete, Badian, Sinsin and Sudlon; and Danao City. Although PDEA-7 has received some reports about clandestine drug labs operating in the region, it still is trying to validate said information. Aspacio also reported that the ports of regions and the shorelines of provinces will continue to be used in the movement of illegal drugs and that, possibly, drug money will be used in the upcoming barangay elections. Sadly however, there will be a difficulty in arresting big-time drug lords, according to Aspacio, because they merely orchestrate the procurement and distribution of the items and do not actually take hold of them. Aspacio strongly recommends to the RPOC to intensify the drug supply and demand reduction operations in the region where he suggests the activation of all barangay anti-drug abuse councils (BADACs) which could effectively be used in the preventive education campaigns, intelligence gathering and as a support system in interdiction operations in wharves and coastlines, and to actively involve the LGUs down to the barangay level for closer coordination to effectively address the drug problem, not only in the region, but also in the entire country. (J Villarojo)