WAR ON DRUGS

MANILA: President Duterte made sure to include illegal drugs among pressing topics at the 31st ASEAN Summit, maintaining, “The menace that is the illegal drug trade continues to endanger the very fabric of our societies.” Other ASEAN leaders in turn reaffirmed their commitment to establishing a drug-free community as they welcomed progress in the implementation of the “Work Plan on Securing Communities Against Illicit Drugs 2016-2025,” which calls for a successful and effective approach to address illicit drug activities and to mitigate its negative consequences to society, through significant and sustainable reduction in illicit crop cultivation, illicit manufacture and trafficking of drugs and drug-related crimes, and prevalence of its use. The ASEAN leaders also welcomed the adoption of the “ASEAN Cooperation Plan Tackling Illicit Drug Production and Trafficking in the Golden Triangle 2017-2019.” The Golden Triangle refers to the border regions between Thailand, Burma and Laos infamously known for illegal drug trade and production. (Roy C. Mabasa)

LEYTE: Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Eastern Visayas arrested a big time drug peddler at Zone 19, Poblacion, Baybay City here, over the weekend. PDEA-8 Regional Director Edgar T. Jubay said suspect Warren Lim y Cahigos, 35, was caught in a buy-bust operation, yielding 14 heat-sealed plastic sachets of shabu with an estimated market value of ₱75,000. (Nestor L. Abrematea)

ROMBLON:The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has officially declared Romblon a “drug clear province” in a ceremony held Monday at Romblon State College. Chief Superintendent Wilben M. Mayor, regional director of the MIMAROPA (Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) police, congratulated the entire Romblon police force for their contribution in making the province free and clear from illegal drugs. Mayor also thanked local citizenry and government officials for their support in making Romblon the second province after Batanes to have been declared drug-clear. The event was attended by PDEA Assistant Regional Director Mario Ramos; PDEA Deputy Director General for Operations Raul Lasala; Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Florida M. Dijan; and Department of Health (DOH) Regional Director Eduardo Janairo. Also present were Romblon Vice Governor Jose R. Riano and Congressman Emmanuel F. Madrona. (Jerry J. Alcayde)

TACLOBAN CITY: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional office in Eastern Visayas recently declared more than 400 barangays in the area drug-free. In an interview, PDEA-8 Regional Director Edgar T. Jubay said these also include 10 municipalities, namely Balangkayan, Gen. MacArthur, Maslog, Mercedes, San Julian and San Policarpio, in Eastern Samar; Libagon and Limasawa in Southern Leyte; and Motiong and Pagsangjan in Samar. Jubay expressed optimism that with continued effort and with valuable help from local government agencies, more barangays and towns in Eastern Visayas will be declared drug-free by the end of this year.