LINGAYEN, Pangasinan (PIA) – The Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO) is calling on residents to actively participate in the fight against illegal drugs, emphasizing that community support is crucial in achieving a drug-free province.
This plea comes after the successful arrest of a high-value drug target on October 3, 2024.
Provincial Director PCol Rollyfer Capoquian said the arrest was made possible due to the vigilance of concerned citizens who reported suspicious activities.
The apprehended individual, a 42-year-old male from Mangaldan, was found to have 55 grams of suspected shabu, worth approximately P374,000.
He is now under the custody of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) for further legal proceedings.
Lt. Col. Benjamin Zarate, PDEU head, explained that the suspect was identified through a tip from a concerned citizen and subsequent intelligence gathering.
Capoquian said the arrest serves as a reminder that community cooperation, such as reporting suspicious activities and working closely with police, is important in the ongoing fight against illegal activities, particularly in tackling the issue of illegal drug-related crimes.
“Napakaimportante ng pagtutulungan ng community, local government unit at ng mga kapulisan dahil hindi kaya ng kapulisan ang laban kontra sa kriminalidad kung walang partisipasyon ang komunidad,” he said.
(It is very important for the community, the local government unit, and the police to work together because the police cannot fight against crime without the participation of the community.)
Capoquian, who recently assumed office as the new provincial director of the Pangasinan PPO, vowed to intensify the police force’s efforts in combating criminal activities, with a particular focus on the anti-illegal drugs campaign.
He noted that the majority of crimes in the province are linked to the use of illegal drugs, and making it a priority to address will reduce crime rates and ensure the safety and security of local communities.
Capoquian said the Pangasinan PPO will also intensify information and education campaigns against illegal drugs to educate the youth about the ill effects of illegal drugs.
He added that the Pangasinan PPO will strengthen police checkpoints along roads and enhance monitoring in coastal areas to combat the innovative strategies employed by illegal drug sellers utilizing the coastal waters of the province.
Ricky Olive Casipit, a resident of Mangaldan town, expressed hopefulness regarding the recent arrests of drug personalities in the municipality of Mangaldan, emphasizing that the continued efforts of the police to crack down illegal drug activities reflect their commitment to public safety.
“While it is encouraging to see arrests being made and reflects the police’s efforts, there is also fear due to the ongoing anti-drug operations, indicating that drugs still have a presence in the community, although the long-term effect of reducing this presence is reassuring,” Casipit said.
Based on the reports of PDEU, anti-drug operations conducted from January to October 3, 2024, have resulted in the confiscation of a total of 853.284 grams of shabu and 0.582 grams of marijuana, along with the arrest of 17 individuals who are street-level and high-value targets. (AMB/EMSA/PIA Pangasinan)
