SANTO TOMAS, Pampanga—A small Pampanga town has renewed its campaign against illegal drugs in line with the directive of the provincial government to purge the illegal trade.
Mayor Joselito “Lito” Naguit said he ordered the police to continue its aggressive campaign against alleged drug pushers, as exhorted by Gov. Lilia Pineda.
Naguit’s order to Chief Insp. John Clark, town police chief, resulted in the arrest of at least 18 drug pushers since the renewed campaign was launched a few months ago. Two other suspects were arrested for alleged possession of illegal drugs, said Clark.
Pineda and Vice Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda have launched a relentless campaign against the illegal-drugs trade. They asked the town and city mayors, the more than 1,000 members of the Pampanga police force, barangay officials and tanods, and residents to help in the fight against the drug menace.
“Officials of Santo Tomas and our reliable police force are doing our best to stop the illegal-drugs trade, as instructed by the governor and vice governor,” said Naguit. Last December 21 Clark and his men arrested a 28-year-old alleged drug pusher during a buy-bust operation in Barangay San Matias, here.
The suspect was identified as Oliver David Canlas of Purok 2, San Vicente.
Clark said their operation was coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency regional office and the Pampanga Police Office.
Canlas was arrested after handing over a piece of small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance (believed to be shabu) to poseur-buyer PO3 Yockding Benzon of the Santo Tomas police.
Clark said that most of the suspects were arrested during buy-bust operations. He added the 18 drug pushers and two persons caught while in the possession of illegal drugs were charged before the provincial prosecutor’s office based on a report.
Joey Pavia / Correspondent