PDEA’s Opena cited for drug law enforcement

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union–Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 1 Director Roberto S. Opena was presented a distinguished plaque of recognition here Friday by the Dangerous Drugs Board headed by Antonio “Bebot” A. Villar Jr. for extraordinary commitment to drug law enforcement.

The solemn ceremony was attended by distinguished guests of various civil society groups.

Opena’s noted accomplishments were the raiding of several ”shabu tiange” in La Union and Pangasinan provinces, arrest of a number of drug groups responsible for proliferation of shabu at Region 1, an estimated 2.5 billion worth of illegal hemp destroyed at the tri-boundaries of Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and Benguet, discovery of the Pampanga shabu warehouse on Feb. 28, 2009 and the recovery of 623 million worth of shabu on the shores of Dingalan, Aurora.

As a result, the PDEA RO1 was awarded the “Best PDEA Regional Office of the year 2008-2009”.

Due to his effective stint in curbing the illegal drug trade, he was chosen Area Task Group Alpha commander for Northern Luzon covering Regions 1, 2 including the Cordillera. – Bismarck L. Bengwayan