CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda encouraged the Pampanga Police Office (PPO) led by Senior Superintendent Joel Consulta and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-3 (PDEA) led by Regional Director Ismael Fajardo to go after “big fishes” and conduct bigger drug operations to curb illegal drugs in the province.
In an interview, the lady governor confessed that she told Consulta and Fajardo to target suppliers and not just the users and pushers as the provincial government shells out millions of funds for the apprehension of drug personalities.
“I also told them to have a meeting with the Philippine National Police, PDEA, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to further study our coordination in going after these big drug personalities and end this decade-long problem,” she added.
She also said that almost 70% of the inmates in the provincial and district jails are composed of apprehended street-level drug suspects.
Provincial Director Consulta, meanwhile, said that the governor conducted a seminar involving all agencies concerned in the fight against illegal drugs.
The capability enhancement seminar was attended by representatives from the police, Prosecutor’s Office, lawyers of National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) and all other concerned agencies.
Also Drug Enforcement Units (DEUs) in every station underwent a two-day seminar to further enhance the capabilities in fighting illegal drugs, said Consulta.
PHILIP OCAMPO
PHOTO BY JUN JASO/PAMPANGA PIO
