The PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force raided before dawn Monday 12 houses in Brgy. West Crame, San Juan City allegedly converted into drug dens. Police arrested 33 individuals including an active policeman and a former village official. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
On the first days of Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento as the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief, he witnessed the anti-narcotics cops swoop down on 12 drug dens only a stone鈥檚 throw away from the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Quezon City.
Early Monday, the PNP鈥檚 anti-illegal drugs unit raided 12 houses allegedly converted into drug dens in Barangay (village) West Crame in San Juan City that resulted in the arrest of 33 suspects鈥搃ncluding an active policeman and a former village official.
鈥淲e are going to investigate this further. It鈥檚 very alarming that there is a drug den operating very near the police camp,鈥� Sarmiento, who took office last September 11, said in an interview after the raid.
After the discovery, he said the DILG and the PNP, through the anti-crime strategy 鈥淥plan Lambat-Sibat,鈥� will intensify anti-illegal drug operations with the aid of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
The raid resulted to the seizure of still undetermined amount of sachets of shabu (metamphetamine hydrochloride), drug paraphernalia including several tooters and improvised burners.
One of the 33 arrested suspects was PO2 Ronaldo Baltazar, who is currently assigned at the PNP Headquarters Support Service.
The PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force raided before dawn Monday 12 houses in Brgy. West Crame, San Juan City allegedly converted into drug dens. Police arrested 33 individuals including an active policeman and a former village official. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
PNP officials as drug protectors?
PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said they are already looking into the alleged protectors and coddlers of rogue cops involved in illegal drugs activities.
鈥淎re there PNP officials who coddle these drug suspects? That鈥檚 one of the things we are studying. Irrespective of who they are, we will make sure they鈥檒l be put behind bars especially if there are sufficient evidence to do so,鈥� said Marquez in an ambush interview at Camp Crame.
Senior Superintendent Antonio Gardiola, chief of Anti Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF), said the raid was a result of a month-long case build up operation in cooperation with the local communities.
Gardiola also warned drug pushers that more arrests will be made as there will be no let-up in the PNP AIDSOTF鈥檚 campaign against illegal drugs starting with the grassroots level.
鈥淗indi po namin kayo titigilan. Hanggang barangay level na po ang ating tatrabahuin (We will not stop; we will work even at the barangay level),鈥� he said.
Cases for violation of Republic Act no. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the suspects.聽Julliane Love de Jesus/JE