2,454 druggies in Baguio, 19 b’gays drug-affected

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY   – The  Baguio City Police Office recorded 2, 454 drug surrenderees in this city from July 1, 2016, to January 2017.

City police director Senior Supt. Ramil L. Saculles, said of total number of  surrenderees, 2,018 were users while 436 were pushers.

When the government's enhanced anti-drug campaign was implemented starting March 6 this year, police accounted for 92 drug surrenderees wherein 53 were drug pushers and 39 were drug users.

For those users and pushers who want to be brought back to mainstream society, the BCPO chief said they are being required to undergo 12-module integrated participatory community-based rehabilitation program with tests before they will graduate from the program.

Based on the latest data obtained from the Cordillera office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, there are still 19 of the city's 128 barangays which are classified as drug-affected barangays because of presence of drug pushers and users.

According to him, law enforcers will intensify their anti-drug operations in coordination with concerned sectors of society to stop proliferation of illegal drugs in their places and spare the youth from being addicted.

The police chief said the BCPO will be actively involved in community-based programs to encourage participation of the youth in activities like Battle of the Bands, sports events, and other productive activities that will help them shy away from prohibited drugs.