Davide Urges New Central Visayas Cop Chief to Intensify Anti-drug Drive

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III on Friday urged newly-installed Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 director, Chief Superintedent Manuel Gaerlan, to intensify police operations against illegal drugs in the province.

Davide made the statement during Gaerlan’s courtesy call at the governor’s office Friday.

Davide said there is a need to continue and sustain the anti-illegal drugs effort of Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Banas, Gaerlan’s predecessor.

Davide said drug traffickers are preying on young people, especially the students in the province.

”This should be stopped,” Davide said.

Gaerlan, who came from the Directorate for Human Resource and Management at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, assumed as PRO 7 director Wednesday.

Banas, who was reassigned to Camp Crame, served as PRO 7 chief for the last 18 months.

Under his watch, the PRO 7 conducted 4,892 anti-illegal drug operations that led to the confiscation of 27,722.13 grams of illegal drugs worth PHP307.2 million.

This also resulted in the arrest of 6,679 drug personalities.

President Benigno Aquino III awarded him in August for PRO 7’s campaign against illegal drugs and loose firearms. (PNA) LAP/EB/RSM