CAMP TOLENTINO – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has declared 16 barangays (villages) in Bataan province as “drug-free barangays.”
This was announced yesterday by Bataan police director, Senior Supt. & Attorney Benjamin Silo, Jr. during the celebration of the 116th police service anniversary at this Camp.
Out of 228 drug affected barangays province-wide, 16 barangays here were declared drug-free by PDEA after meeting all the necessary parameters established by the Dangerous Drugs Board.
Atty. Silo and Bataan Governor Albert Raymond S. Garcia administered the distribution of certificates of recognition to the village chiefs of Barangay Cataning and Dangcol (Balanga City); Pinulot, Aquino and Gomez in Dinalupihan; Mandama and Burgos Soliman in Hermosa; Quinawan, Paysawan and Binuangan in Bagac; Wawa and Poblacion in Pilar; Daan Bago and Arellano in Orion and San Roque and Sta. Lucia in Samal town.
Gov. Garcia gave P20,000 to each drug-cleared barangay and the respected city and municipal police stations.
“We expect more at least 74 barangays here will also be declared as drug-free this month. It’s the oversight committee of PDEA who will validate our recommendations,” Atty. Silo told the Bataan press in an interview after the event.
Silo added that since July 1, 2016 to August 31, 2017 the Bataan Police Provincial Office has conducted 730 anti-illegal drugs operations launched province wide and have arrested 957 persons who were involved in selling, transport, and use of illegal drugs. A total of 19 high value targets including some barangay officials were also neutralized.