50.16 Percent of Central Visayas Villages Affected by Illegal Drugs – PDEA 7

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 said 50.16 percent of the barangays or villages in Central Visayas has been affected by illegal drugs.

Wardley Getalla, PDEA 7 assistant regional director, said this translates to 1,507 barangays in the region which are “slightly, moderately or seriously affected” by illegal drugs.

Only 49.83 percent or 1,497 barangays are not affected by illegal drugs, Getalla said.

Getalla said there are more barangays affected by illegal drugs in both Bohol and Negros Oriental than there are barangays without it.

But he said the situation is different in Cebu and Siquijor, where fewer barangays are affected than those not affected by drugs.

Getalla said the PDEA 7 conducted 2,944 operations from January to November this year, compared with 2,729 operations in the same period last year.

He said the agency made 3,068 arrests as of November this year, from 2,176 last year.

Earlier, the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) 7 reported that some 18.1 kilos of illegal drugs worth about PHP214.042 million were confiscated in the region from January to November this year.

Superintendent Arnel Banzon, chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Regional Operation and Plans Division, said 4,163 drug suspects were arrested in 2,997 anti-drug operations from January to November this year.

Banzon said 5,327 cases were filed against these suspects. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS