CPADAO: ‘Drug-cleared’ status may benefit bets

The Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) will continue its declaration of 25 new “drugcleared” barangays before the election on Monday despite warnings that it could be misconstrued as partisan political activity.

But Carmen Remedios “Ivy” Durano-Meca, CPADAO executive director, said it is the barangay, not its officials, that is given credit if it’s declared cleared of drugs.

She said the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADACs) in drug-cleared barangays play an important role in getting that recognition.

Meca admitted that incumbent officials whose barangays were declared as cleared of drugs could use the accolade to boost their reelection campaign.

She clarified, though, that the recognition given to drug-cleared barangays is not aimed to serve as partisan political statement, but to ensure that the programs of the Cebu Provincial Government will be sustained, even after this month’s barangay elections.

A barangay is considered “drug cleared” if it has special programs to ensure that illegal drugs will not return to their area; if law enforcement agencies can attest that drug personalities in the area and their activities have been neutralized; if a barangay has an active BADAC; and if it provides a community-based drug rehabilitation program for their surrenderers.

A drug-cleared barangay can be considered as “drug-free” after another series of assessments conducted by CPADAO’s Oversight Committee, which is headed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Cebu Provincial Election supervisor, said the declaration of drug-cleared barangays will not only benefit incumbent officials but also opposition candidates to prove that they are not using illegal drugs.

As of yesterday, Pilar town in Camotes is the second local government unit in Cebu Province whose 13 barangays have been declared as cleared of drugs.

CPADAO declared Bogo City as drug-cleared last year after assessing its 29 barangays.

Aside from Pilar and Bogo City, drug-cleared barangays include one each in the City of Naga and San Francisco town in Camotes, three in Danao City and seven in San Remegio.

But Meca reminded barangay officials that being “drug clear” is different from “drug-free.”

Meca said that while securing the “drug-free” status cannot be achieved yet, CPADAO will continue its operations to ensure that all barangays in the Province will reach its goal in removing illegal drugs in the communities.