PNP: 500 ‘pushers’ openly peddling drugs in Bataan

PROVINCIAL CAPITOL, Bataan — After reporting the jailing of several suspected drug pushers in recent weeks, the head of the Police Provincial Office (PPO) admitted the other day that the illegal drugs trade in this province has become a major problem with around 500 drug pushers “openly peddling drugs.”

Speaking before the Provincial Board Session last Monday, Senior Superintendent Rhodel Sermonia, PPO acting director, also said that out of 237 barangays in Bataan, 202 are affected by the illegal drugs problem.

Shocked at the revelation, board members prodded Sermonia to shed more light on the proliferation of illegal drugs in the province over the 10 months that he has been on top of the PPO.

To his merit, Sermonia said that since his assumption as acting provincial director (PD), he has been able to implement various schemes, launched multi-sectoral approaches, such as tapping foreign diplomats, barangay leaders, civilians and even company executives, to help the police in its peace and order campaign.

But the drug menace continues to be a challenge for his tour of duty in Bataan.

Board Member Rey Ibe said he was not shocked at the revelation of Sermonia. “Lantaran na sa aming barangay ang bentahan ng shabu at pati bata ay nagbebenta narin (Shabu is openly peddled in our village and even kids are selling them),” said Ibe.

Some board members cited how the provincial government, in its bid to solve the drugs problems, has been providing cash assistance to the PPO for years.

But Sermonia admitted: “There is an alarming drug problems in Bataan and we need a close work relationship,” Sermonia told the board, saying they themselves cannot solve it alone.”

Despite their dismay, board members offered another form of financial assistance to the police, by proposing to put up a reward system in which an informant who tips off a drug peddler to police will get a cash reward.