49 nabbed in Pangasinan anti-illegal drugs drive

By Mar T. Supnad

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The campaign against illegal drugs and other crimes in this province is gaining ground with bigger number of arrested drug personalities and wanted persons, according to law enforcement officials.

Senior Supt. Sterling Blanco, provincial police director said just recently, a total 35 operations were conducted, resulting in  arrest of 48 persons and confiscation of 79.79 grams of shabu worth P518.245 and 140.302 grams of dried marijuana leaves worth P10,522.

He said 46 cases have been filed in courts for illegal drugs against suspects.

Blanco said the provincial police command’s campaign in reducing distribution of marijuana and shabu in Pangasinan was  boosted by running after distributors here and reducing supply and demand.

A veteran intelligence officer and recipient of awards, Blanco said once the supply of illegal drugs here is lessened this will  mean reduction of users since they cannot buy illegal drugs anymore.

In year 2013, under the term of Senior Supt. Marlou Chan, where two electoral events were held, Pangasinan police accomplished 35% more operations and 65% more arrests compared to 2012.

Now chief of police directorial regional staff based in in Camp Gen. Florendo, La Union, Chan said year 2012 was a period of normal police operations and even 2014, compared to 2013, “yet Pangasinan was included in 15 areas of concern. We still accomplished that much in anti-drugs operations and the biggest haul so far in January 2013 operations.”

In other police operations, Chan said Pangasinan office was awarded with most number of guns confiscated with two other major awards (arrest of most wanted persons) for exemplary performance in 2013 elections.

Blanco meanwhile said he launched information drive activities in elementary and secondary schools which students, teachers, barangay officials and members of non-government organizations had attended.