WAR ON DRUGS
MANILA: Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle continues to appeal for returning drug dependents to be given the chance to change their lives. “We should never give up on individuals who are perceived to be wasting their lives or who are believed to be useless for they are important in the eyes of God,” Tagle stressed during the recent vicariate launching of the local Church’s Sanlakbay program of the Restorative Justice Ministry of Caritas Manila at the San Juan Bautista Parish (Pinaglabanan Church) in San Juan. Tagle reminded the faithful to work with the Church for the success of the Sanlakbay program. (Christina I. Hermoso)
PAMPANGA: Anti-narcotics agents arrested a notorious drug pusher and seized ₱.2 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or “shabu,” in a sting in Barangay Sto. Rosario, Angeles City Tuesday afternoon, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 3 (PDEA3) said. In a report submitted to PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeṅa, PDEA3 regional director Juvenal B. Azurin identified the suspect as Joey A. Avilar Jr., 28, and resident of Barangay Pulung Bulu, Angeles City. zurin divulged that Avilar Jr who has been a target of Oplan Tokhang was known to be a big-time pusher in Angeles City, City Of San Fernando and some areas in Pampanga and had been in PDEA’s radar since January. (Franco G. Regala)
CARAGA REGION: A former police officer, ex-councilor and three other drug suspects were arrested in various operations in an intensified “Double Barrel Reloaded” drive by the Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) in Caraga region yesterday. Along with the PDEA 13 agents, police operatives of the drug enforcement units of Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Office (PPO) and Surigao City Police Station (SCPS) conducted a joint anti-illegal drug operation through a buy-bust that resulted in the arrest of suspect Felvin Libor, 36, former police member and Jestoni Diaz Lastra, 19, in Barangay Washington, Surigao City. Government operatives seized a total of ₱70,800 worth of suspected shabu and other illegal drug paraphernalia from the suspects. (Mike U. Crismundo)