VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are urging local government units (LGUs) to collaborate closely with law enforcement agencies, especially in coastal communities.
This call comes after local fishermen found black sacks floating in the sea containing a significant amount of shabu worth millions of pesos.
“PDEA Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo directed me to seek support from our LGUs, especially those with barangays along shorelines in Ilocos Sur, to organize community groups [and for them] to be vigilant in identifying and reporting any instances of drug smuggling in the locality,” said PDEA Regional Director Joel Plaza during the joint Peace and Order Council-Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council-Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Meeting on Thursday, June 27, at the Provincial Farmers Livelihood Development Center in this city.
To achieve a drug-free environment, Lazo emphasized that the main challenge is sustainability; hence, the PDEA is urging communities to combine their efforts, particularly in raising awareness and implementing interventions, to maintain and strengthen the progress made by the province in its fight against illegal drugs.
“To enhance our efforts in combating drug smuggling and ensuring the safety of our coastal communities, it is imperative to establish Coast Watch, a community-law enforcement collaboration specifically tailored for our coastal municipalities launched last year by PDEA Regional Office I. This initiative involves training local fishermen and barangay officials, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to identify and report suspicious activities effectively,” the PDEA said in a statement.
“The community’s prompt reporting of this discovery is vital in our efforts to combat illegal drugs. We encourage everyone, especially those living along coastlines, to report any similar findings to their nearest police stations immediately,” said Police Brigadier General Lou Evangelista, regional director of Police Regional Office 1.
It can be remembered that a series of discoveries revealed 80 packs of shabu worth a combined total of P153,753,794 floating in the seawaters of three municipalities in the province.
On Monday, June 24, four fishermen discovered 24 packs weighing 23,919 grams at Barangay Solotsolot in San Juan town.
After conducting laboratory tests, the PDEA confirmed that the shabu was worth P44,649,200, and also revealed the discovery of six empty packs, which were believed to have dissolved in seawater.
On Wednesday, June 26, a fisherman found 18 packs while fishing in the seawaters of Barangay Bia-o, Santa Maria town.
These packs weighed 17,925.78 grams and were valued at P45,895,304.
Later that same evening, five fishermen discovered another 18 packs weighing 17,943.51 grams while fishing in the seawaters of Barangay Puro in Magsingal town.
These were valued at P46,015,868.
On Thursday afternoon, two fishermen found 19 packs while fishing in the seawater of the same barangay in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur.
These packs weighed 19,178.24 grams and were valued at P45,412,032, and around 10:00 PM the same day, they also turned over another pack weighing 997.25 grams worth P6,781,300 to authorities.
During the opening ceremony of the One Ilocos Sur tour in front of the Provincial Capitol on Saturday, June 29, the PDEA and the provincial government of Ilocos Sur expressed their appreciation to the 12 fishermen for their integrity and public service after finding packages of shabu.
The PDEA rewarded the fishermen with P5,000 for each pack of shabu they found, while the provincial government of Ilocos Sur awarded an additional P50,000 to each fisherman. (AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)
