Daily Tribune (Philippines)

Community backing crucial for drug war success

- BY LADE JEAN KABAGANI

The Philippine National Police stressed the importance of acquiring continued support from the communitie­s in a bid to annihilate the illegal drug problem in the country.

On Sunday, PNP chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. reiterated that informants in various communitie­s have always played a vital role in the success of the police’s anti-illegal drug operations and its continuous campaign to totally eradicate the drug problem.

Azurin’s statement comes after suspected shabu worth more than P13.6 million was seized by a drug dealer couple operating in Naga City last Thursday.

“The arrest of these drug dealers is a victory for our community and a step forward in our fight against illegal drugs. I thank the community for their continued support, and I encourage them to continue working with us to keep our streets safe,” Azurin said.

He revealed that the couple was arrested around 9 p.m. at the Barangay Tabuco of Naga’s town on 19 January, carrying approximat­ely 2,000 grams of suspected shabu, one .9mm pistol and magazine loaded with four rounds of live ammunition, and the P500 buy-bust money.

“Initial investigat­ion showed that an undercover police, with the assistance of a confidenti­al informant, were able to buy from the suspects one piece of a heatsealed transparen­t plastic sachet containing a white crystallin­e substance suspected as shabu worth P1.1 million,” Azurin said.

The arrested suspects and confiscate­d pieces of evidence are now under the custody of the Police Station, Naga City Police Office and are subject to documentat­ion and proper dispositio­n.

The couple will face criminal charges for violating RA 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehens­ive Dangerous Act of 2002.

 ?? PhotograPh by Joey sanChez Mendoza for the daily tribune@tribunephl_joey ?? MeMbers of the Wartime heritage guild, clad in Japanese imperial army uniform, reenact the declaratio­n of Manila as an open city during the 1941 Japanese invasion, at fort santiago in intramuros, Manila on sunday.
PhotograPh by Joey sanChez Mendoza for the daily tribune@tribunephl_joey MeMbers of the Wartime heritage guild, clad in Japanese imperial army uniform, reenact the declaratio­n of Manila as an open city during the 1941 Japanese invasion, at fort santiago in intramuros, Manila on sunday.

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