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Friday, March 29, 2024

‘Pampanga chiefs coddling druggies’

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SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—Police authorities here have accused barangay officials of coddling and protecting drug addicts, pushers, and users in their respective areas.

Senior Police Supt. Joel Consulta, officer in charge of the Pampanga Provincial Police Office, said despite the government’s relentless campaign against illegal users and pushers, about 9,663 drug addicts, pushers, and users were lurking in Pampanga’s villages.

Earlier, about 9,000 barangay residents divided into 505 groups were fielded throughout the province to as lookouts against pushers, users, and other drug criminals.

During a yearend assessment of the anti-illegal drug campaign in the province at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention and Sport Center here, Consulta said village leaders continued to ignore the existence of illegal drug operations in their localities.

Despite 10,000 suspected drug addicts who surrendered to the authorities during the first few months after the launch of Operation Tokhang, many drug runners continue to ply their trade because some village leaders refuse to act against their friends, relatives, and voters, Consulta said.

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To minimize the killing of suspected drug addicts, pushers, and users, village leaders must cooperate with the authorities by reporting such persons in their localities to the nearest police station, he added.

“We must all give our cooperation so that the province can be declared a drug-free area as envisioned by the province government,” the police chief said.

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