'Drug-free Bohol possible'
The province's ongoing war on illegal drugs has shifted to a higher gear, and according to the Bohol police director making Bohol as a drug-free place is "highly possible."
In an interview over station dyTR yesterday, Senior Supt. Felipe Rivera Natividad, Bohol police director, said that with the drug war achievements that the province has gained so far, it is very possible for Bohol to reach the status as drug free soon.
Dubbed as the "Bohol Approach" in wiping out illegal drugs here, the comprehensive approach is a collusion between the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Army and the Prosperity Team of the Purok Power Movement of the Provincial Government of Bohol, together with local government units and non-government organizations.
Police and military authorities and the Purok Power Movement have literally joined forces to sustain the government's campaign against criminality and illegal drugs, revealed Ms. Liza M. Quirog, Capitol's SEEM Cluster head.
Quirog told The Bohol Tribune that a Bohol-styled blueprint has been prepared which will charter how the police and the military can utilize all their resources in addressing the drug problem, as mandated by Pres. Duterte.
On the other hand, asked how confident he is that Bohol can achieve the status as a "drug-free province," Col. Natividad answered in the affirmative, adding that he called on the unequivocal support of all people of Bohol in the campaign against illegal drugs.
"I'm a positive person and I believe and I am hopeful that makamit natin ang ating minimithi bilang isang drug-free province," said Natividad, who replaced former Bohol police director, Senior Supt. Dennis Agustin, who is now assigned at the Regional PNP Office in Cebu City.
The relentless war on drugs in Bohol started in 2013 when Col. Agustin was appointed by Gov. Edgar Chatto to head the Bohol police command. Long before Duterte became president, Bohol had initiated breakthrough efforts in waging war on illegal drugs.
In the radio interview, Natividad cited the kind of intensified effort on drug war being initiated by the provincial government led by Gov. Edgar M. Chatto and the law enforcers including local officials as a strong basis for believing that Bohol would be declared drug-free one day.
"Hindi lang drug free ang ating gustong abutin, we also want Bohol to become drug resistant," Natividad told dyTR's "Ang Lungsod nga Nasayod" program aired every Saturday and hosted by Mike Ligalig.
"Once we become drug free, ayaw natin na bumalik pa ang drugs sa Bohol," Natividad said, stressing that the war on drugs is a continuing effort.
The police director reported that the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) continues its implementation of PNP's Oplan Double Barrel, which also includes cleansing of police scalawags who are linked to drugs.
As this develops, the local government unit (LGU) Dimiao has declared itself as a drug-free town.
Dimiao Mayor Danilo Guivencan earlier told media that his town had completely eliminated the problem on illegal drugs based on reports of the town's barangay officials as confirmed by law enforcers.
Reacting to the declaration, Col. Natividad said the PNP will conduct a validation activity if indeed Dimiao is now drug-free.
The police director said the regional PNP office will also verify the drug status of Dimiao.
Earlier, Gov. Chatto had congratulated the town officials of Dimiao for their serious commitment to solve the problem on illegal drugs.
Chatto has just been cited by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as one of the top 10 governors in the Philippines who acts a role model in the country, for his work and commitment to eliminate illegal drugs here.
DOUBLE BARREL
In Manila, the Philippine National Police (PNP) had announced that more than 3 million houses were visited under the PNP's "Double Barrel" from July 1 to Nov. 4, 2016.
In a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City, PNP Director for Operations Chief Supt. Camilo Cascolan said that under the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Campaign Plan "Double Barrel", a total of 3,034,572 houses were visited wherein a total of 759,844 personally appeared or surrendered to authorities.
Cascolan noted that of the total number of surrenderers, 704,785 are drug users while 55,059 are drug pushers.
He said that a total of 34,002 drug operations were conducted wherein 33,255 personalities were arrested such that 14,085 of them are drug users and 19,170 are drug pushers.
Likewise, a total of 1,795 drug personalities were killed during the police operations.
Cascolan said that the "Double Barrel Alpha" was also launched upon the directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to address the worsening illegal drugs problem in the country.
President Rodrigo Duterte asked for an extension of six months to solve crime and the menacing illegal drugs problem.
Under the "Double Barrel Alpha" from Oct. 26 to Nov. 4, 2016, a total of 423,673 houses were visited wherein a total of 8,294 personally appeared or surrendered to authorities.
Of the surrenderees, 7,924 are drug users and 370 are drug pushers.
During the same period, a total of 1,093 police operations were conducted wherein a total of 1,724 were arrested such that 748 are drug users and 976 are drug pushers.
BOHOL DATA: 651 more accounted, 1 killed, 15 pushers, 481 users nabbed
Meanwhile, the accusation that law enforcement operatives are instrumental in the killings of drug personalities in Bohol is unfair, hints Bohol Provincial Police Office in Camp Dagohoy.
If that were the case, then no one of the drug personalities nabbed while armed, during police operations would have survived, police community relations officer Senior Police Officer 4 Quinciano Lopena said.
Then a media reporter working in the police beat, SPO4 Lopena pointed out Bohol only saw 23 armed drug personalities killed during police operations, compared to those who peacefully yielded their arms and allowed police to peacefully keep them.
This too as Bohol saw 47 deaths, 23 in legitimate police operations and some 27 deaths falling under investigation by police authorities since July 1 to November 16.
Earlier, Psupt Nicomedes Olaivar, at the Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP) said most angles investigators are finding in deaths under investigation point to drug rivalries and failure of the victims to settle for drug debts and payments.
Speaking at the Kapihan sa PIA, SPO4 Lopena stressed that while the police exercise restraint in neutralizing drug personalities, they too must protect themselves at all times.
In August, about 9 policemen and 3 military officers have died in drug operations, reports from the PNP Camp Crame showed.
There is no accessible record of police or military deaths yet in anti-narcotics operation, since then.
But for Lopena, his biggest argument however turned out to be: the number of those armed drug personalities who surrendered when confronted by police and law enforcement operatives.
Since October 26 when Double Barrel ended and Oplan Double Barrel Alpha commenced, Bohol authorities accounted another 497 surrenderees, 15 pushers, 481 users.
In police operations, 19 have been arrested and only one killed, he said.
“The police mandate is to serve and protect. We do not kill,” Lopena stressed.
Pressing some more, Lopena added, if all those 19 arrested in police operations are killed, then we cannot stop the people from assuming that these are extrajudicial killings.
But Lopena insisted that a police job does not include killing, and as law enforcers, even criminals who can be reformed shall be given due process.
Since President Rodrigo Duterte started the country’s anti-drug campaign with the police launching Oplan Double Barrel July 1, until its closing October 26, Bohol police accounted for 32,344 drug personalities.
And starting October 27, or until police commenced Oplan Double Barrel Alpha, November 16, PNP Community Relations Officer Lopena of Camp Dagohoy said they have accounted for 651 drug personalities. (with a report from Rey Anthony Chiu of PIA)
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