Masantol isCL’s1st drug-cleared town
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The municipality of Masantol, together with its 26 barangays, on Friday was declared the first drug-cleared town in Central Luzon under the new parameters set by the Dangerous Drugs Board.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region III Director Ismael Fajardo, Jr., who chairs the Drug Clearing Oversight Committee, led the ceremonial declaration held at the Benigno Aquino Hall, Capitol Compound in this city.
“After satisfying all the 14 new parameters set by the DDB Board Regulation No. S. 2017, I hereby declare Masantol as the first drug-free town in Region III,” Fajardo said in his official declaration.
As committee head, Fajardo lauded the united efforts of the Masantol police force headed by Chief Inspector Julius Javier and the local government headed by Mayor Danilo Guintu in providing a safer environment for the people.
He stressed that the perseverance of police and all local officials is worthy of commendation and must be emulated by all local government units in the country.
“The first village to be declared drug-cleared in Pampanga did not come from Masantol, but with their willingness and perseverance to cleanse their town from illegal drugs, they aimed not for the first village but for the first town not only
Pampanga, but in the whole of Central Luzon to be drug-cleared,” Fajardo said.
Pampanga Police Provincial Director Joel Consulta, who witnessed the event, also praised the Masantol police for their unwavering support to the intensified campaign against illegal drugs initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“The drug cleared status of Masantol was not achieved over night. This was a product of many sleepless nights and hard work of the men and women of the Masantol Municipal Police Station and the local government unit which is worthy of emulation by other police stations and local government units”, Consulta said.
He added that even before the war on prohibited drugs was launched in 2016, Javier already worked hand in hand with the PDEA to stamp it out in his jurisdiction.
Pampanga Board Member and Chairman of the Committee on Peace and Order Rosve Henson, for his part, expressed gratitude to the Masantol police and the local government unit for bringing such achievement not only for their town, but for the whole of Pampanga.
“Malaki itong karangalan sa Pampanga, lalo na sa akin na chairman ng Committee of Peace and Order ng probinsya. Ito ay isang patunay na kaisa ng gobyerno, ng ating Presidente (Rodrigo) Duterte ang Pampanga sa kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga,” he said.
He, however, said that after the drug-clearing, Masantol is now up for a bigger challenge which is to sustain its drug-cleared status.
He stressed that they must not be complacent and relaxed because even if only a single user and pusher will be reported in their town, their status will be lifted.
Based on the DDB regulation, a drug-cleared town must account for a newly-identified drug suspect for a month or two or its status will be lifted.
During his acceptance speech, Mayor Guintu shared his inspiration in fulfilling his role to make Masantol a drug-cleared town.
“Hindi po kami nakipag-unahan, ito pong citation ay bonus. Ang tunay pong hangarin ko bilang mayor ng Masantol, kasama ng aking mga kapulisan, ay mabigyan ng payapa at ligtas na pamayanan ang mga kababayan ko,” he said.
“Ngayon po, malaya at taas-noo kong sasabihin na makapaglalakad ng kampante ang mga Masantoleño, umaga man o gabi,” he said.