Combined teams from the Navotas mayor’s office and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) last Tuesday swooped down on suspected drug dens in at least three villages in the city, resulting in the arrest of six persons and confiscation of illegal drugs and several user’s paraphernalia.
This as Mayor John Rey Tiangco immediately after the simultaneous raids that took effect at around 4 a.m. in barangays Tangos, San Roque and Daang-hari partnered with PDEA-National Capital Region Police Office Director Wilkins Villanueva in conducting spray painting at the facades of the houses where suspected drug pushers live.
Quite similar to the “shame campaign” initiated by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim back in the 1990s, the relatives of the suspected drug peddlers were asked to write through a red spray: “I support a drug-free Navotas.”
According to the mayor, who was apparently not satisfied since the raids were not able to get the over 20 suspected drug pushers through several arrest warrants issued by regional trial courts (RTCs), the spray painting is primarily designed to remind the residents of the particular area that they should abhor those engaged in illegal drugs.
At the same time, Tiangco renewed his appeal to the local residents to be more cooperative with the city government by reporting to him or to the concerned authorities illegal drug activities in their communities.
Earlier, Tiangco had stepped up the anti-drug drive by hanging several tarpaulins which contained the mayor’s contact number in areas where suspected drug peddlers operate their activities so that concerned residents could provide the city government vital information or tips about a drug pusher.
In Tuesday’s raids which were led by Tiangco and Villanueva, caught were Buboy Tibayan, Chris Parañaque, Roberto Baluyot, Elvira Panganiban and certain “Boyet” and “Entong.”
In a report by Supt. Rio Gatacilo, city police assistant chief for operations, several drug user’s paraphernalia and a total of 99 sachets containing metham-phetamine hydrochloride more popularly known as shabu were seized from the arrested suspects.
Tiangco told Tribune he decided to partner with PDEA after he received a deluge of reports and complaints from concerned residents about the rampant illegal drug activities, especially in the three raided barangays.
Worse, he said, he was alarmed by the residents’ tips that some members of the local police are allegedly coddling drug peddlers, hence his move to coordinate with PDEA the anti-drug operations.
After conducting surveillance in the raided areas, Tiangco personally led the anti-drug operations to show to the residents how serious his administration is in eradicating illegal drugs and arresting drug pushers and sources in the city.
“The no-nonsense campaign, including the spray painting, will continue under my administration until illegal drug activities are totally crushed,” Tiangco said.