Talisay cops endorse 2 barangays as ‘drug-free’

Two out of the 22 barangays in Talisay City will move a step closer to being declared as drug-free villages.

This developed after the Talisay City Police Station endorsed Barangays Tapul and Campo 4 as drug-free to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) and the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO).

A drug-free declaration will be made if there’s no longer presence of drug users and drug pushers in a barangay accompanied by the testimonies of the barangay captain, as well as the assessment of the police.

City Chief of Police Superintendent Jason Villamater said the police and officials of both barangays are now processing all the necessary documents needed for the declaration.

Once completed, all the documents will be submitted to CPADAO.

CPADAO will be the one to conduct ocular inspection and validate the information together with the PDEA to ensure if the candidates are drug-free.

Villamater said the two barangays can qualify as drug-free based on the police assessment and current records.

He said the barangays have been consistent in their anti-illegal drug operations in their respective areas even after the police drug operations were suspended.

But he admitted the barangays, which are located in the upland areas, are “slightly” affected by illegal drug activities.

The city police are hoping the two barangays would be declared as drug-free before the year ends.

"Para maging good example at gumaya yong iba (barangays) sa campaign against illegal drugs," he said.

The said barangays were first endorsed as drug-free to the Capitol December last year, but it did not push through after some drug surrenderers returned to their old ways despite having signed a pledge to stop using or selling illegal drugs.