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AUTHORITIES are keeping an eye on an international drug syndicate and two local crime groups operating in Misamis Oriental, Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano said following the meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) at the capitol on Monday.

This prompted Emano to approve the release of P1 million to aid the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) which has a new regional director, Wilkins Villanueva.

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The fund, according to Emano, would be used for intelligence information gathering so that law enforcers could address the drug problem in the municipalities especially in Gingoog City, and in order to step up the campaign against the illegal drug trade.

The governor called on local governments in the province to do the same, and set aside funds to boost the anti-illegal drug campaign.

Emano said the three drug syndicates have invested at least  P700 million for their operations.

He said the drug operations extend all the way to a province in Caraga, and cover Gingoog City and Cagayan de Oro.

During the PPOC meeting, Villanueva said there were three big drug syndicates operating in the province––the biggest one is an international drug ring. He said a Chinese-Filipino businessman allegedly has links to the local groups.

Officials earlier sounded alarm bells over an ongoing “drug war” in Gingoog City that has reportedly resulted in killings.

PDEA records show there have been at least 28 drugelated killings in Gingoog from January 2013 to January 2015. There, 23 of 79 barangays have “Category 2 drug problems”––meaning, there are at least two drug pushers operating in each barangay.

Emano said he was assured by Villanueva that PDEA would focus on going after those behind the drug trade in the eastern parts of the province.

Villanueva asked for a month and a half month to carry out surveillance operations.

“Dili man nila makuha diretso apan ila nang matumbok kung kinsa kining mga nagpayuhot sa droga sa maong dapit,” Emano said.

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