Pubdate: Fri, 31 Oct 2003
Source: Sunstar Bacolod (Philippines)
Copyright: 2003sSunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1718
Author: Claudine C. Dumalag

140 DRUG-AFFECTED VILLAGES IN NEGOCC 'CLEARED'

Senior Supt. Vicente Ponteras Is Hopeful That 80 To 90 Percent Of The 
Drug-affected Villages In The Province Will Be Cleared Before The Year Ends

OVER a hundred drug-affected barangays have been cleared of illegal drugs 
out of the 201 drug-affected barangays in the province, disclosed Senior 
Supt. Vicente Ponteras, provincial police director.

Ponteras said 140 barangays received clearance, and he is hopeful that 
before the year ends, they will be able to clear 80 to 90 percent of the 
drug- affected villages in the province.

Ponteras revealed 70 percent of the drug supply in Negros Occidental comes 
from Bacolod City, while the rest of the supply comes from Cebu and Iloilo.

He added that in the national perspective, the province, to include 
Bacolod, has been categorized as primarily a consumer market for illicit drugs.

At present, although the drug menace has been put in check due to 
relentless police operations, drug users continue to exist, admitted Ponteras.

He said there are no known clandestine laboratories for shabu in the 
province. However, minor plantations of marijuana have been discovered.

A total of 30 pieces of full-grown marijuana plants in Ilog, and another 
six in Bago City, were uprooted. Two kilos of dried marijuana leaves were 
also recovered in a remote barangay in Bago City, said Ponteras.

"On the local perspective, Bacolod City remains to be the main distribution 
point of drugs through the province's major seaports and the airport," 
Ponteras also revealed.

Drug groups

The provincial police office also managed to neutralize five drug groups 
operating in the province.

They were the Ledesma Group, with the arrest of their leader Alexander Abas 
and two of his members; Magbanua group, operating in Bago last September 3, 
with the arrest of their leader Rolly Magbanua and member Aileen Chetelac, 
marijuana and shabu pushers; Guiron group operating in La Carlota, with the 
arrest of their leader Gilbert Gioron and four of his members; Canlunsag 
group operating in San Carlos with the arrest of Randy Calunsag and two of 
his members; Duhaylungsod group, with the arrest of its leader Jose 
Duhaylungsod and his son at Barangay 4 in San Carlos. CCD
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens