Only 5 brgys in SoCot remain drug-affected

ONLY five barangays remain affected by illegal drugs in South Cotabato, police authorities confirmed.

Based on the latest report from the South Cotabato Police Provincial Office, from the eight barangays earlier reported this month, it went down to five out of the 199 total barangays within the province.

Barangays which remained as illegal drugaffected are GPS in Koronadal City, Poblacion and Kipalbig in Tampakan, Ned in Lake Sebu and Ambalgan in Sto. Niño.

These barangays which were categorized as “slight” in terms of the degree of being affected with drugs comprise 2.51% of the barangays which are not still cleared of drugs while the percentage of certified cleared barangays is now at 97.49%.

Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council permanent representative and Boardmember Agustin Dema-ala said, while these barangays remain under the watch of police authorities, barangays which were already declared as drug cleared should still be closely monitored.

“There are still possibilities that those who surrendered will go back to their usual activities. Police authorities should not be complacent,” he said.

Out of the province’s 10 towns and lone city, at least seven municipalities have 100% drug-free barangays.

These are the municipalities of Tboli, Tantangan, Norala, Tupi, Polomolok, Banga and Surallah. Hydee Templonuevo/SCPIO