“Malipayon mi sa suporta nga gihatag ni Mayor Baste sa amoang campaign against illegal drugs. I-intensify namo ang pagconduct ug anti-illegal drug operations,” said Investigation Agent V Hazel Mandanao, chief of Plans and Operations Division of PDEA 11, during the AFP PNP Press Corps media briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday.
Mandanao said they use two approaches in their campaign against illegal drugs- supply reduction and demand reduction activities.
In demand reduction, she said PDEA 11 goes to different areas including schools and offices. She also said they conduct lectures in various barangays about illegal drugs.
Mandanao added that PDEA 11 continues to implement the Barangay Drug Clearing Program (BDCP), which is designed to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs in the communities.
On Tuesday, PDEA 11 in partnership with the Land Transportation Office 11 (LTO 11), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 11 (LTFRB 11), Department of Health 11 (DOH 11), Highway Patrol Group (HPG), Davao City Police Office (DCPO), the city government of Davao, local government units of Digos City and Tagum City simultaneously implemented Oplan Harabas by conducting a surprise random drug test to about 600 conductors, bus, van and taxi drivers of public transportation services to ensure the safety and security of the passengers this Holy Week.
The drug testing sites were Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT), Tagum City Overland Transport Terminal (TCOTIT), Digos City New Satellite Bus Terminal, Gaisano Mall Transport Terminal, and Venus Transport Service Cooperative.
A K9 sweeping/aneling was also initiated as part of the government’s holistic approach to reducing the demand for illegal drugs, promoting drug-free workplaces, and reformation programs.
“Naay nagpositive but subject for confirmatory pa,” Mandanao said.
Meanwhile, DCPO spokesperson Capt. Hazel Tuazon said before the declaration of Mayor Baste, DCPO already had a campaign against illegal drugs in Davao City.
“Ato lang ipasabot nga last Friday sukad sa pag declare ni Mayor Baste until kahapon naa tay 21 operations conducted na buy-bust operations, of these operations 17 buhi ug voluntarily misurender during the operations ug atong iklaro nga dili tanan drug personalities nanglaban. Atong ipasabot nga ang kapulisan andam pud mu protekta sa ilang kaugalingon para protektahan ang kadaghanan nga gusto ug kalinaw,” Tuazon said.
