By Eldie S. Aguirre,
Digos City Bureau Chief
DIGOS City — Known for his hard stance against illegal drugs, Mayor Joseph Peñas has ordered the police to do their best in running after drug traffickers as well as users but reiterated he won’t tolerate “planting of evidence.”
“As long as you religiously obey the rules of engagement during the serving of warrants and even sting operations, you have my support but you have to make sure there will be no planting of evidence,” Peñas told Supt. Demetrius Taypin, Digos City police chief during the third meeting for members of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Cadac), recently.
The mayor said it would be unfair for the suspect and his family to be placed in jail due to alleged planting of evidence. “The police must use all their ability to catch drug traffickers with the real stuff, not based on bogus evidence.”
Taypin, for his part, assured the mayor they are very careful not to violate the rights of the suspects during the conduct of raids and sting operations.
Digos City has registered more than 2,000 Tokhang responders from 26 villages, arrested through police operations. No casualties of suspects were reported.
The city government has activated the Cadac through the supervision of the city interior and local government officer.
Peñas has ordered village officials to form the barangay anti-drug abuse council (Badac) to maximize all efforts in identifying and monitoring of drug personalities in their respective communities.
“This is very important for us to assess the extent of drug abuse in our locality, and at the same time we could come up with an intensive plan on how to provide rehabilitation for those who will be found out as drug dependent, or to assist those who needed counseling,” the mayor said.
On Nov. 15, Digos City will launch the Masa-Masid (Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya-Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Druga) at the Rizal Park, here.
Cadac and Badac members along with various support group will converge in the area to hear messages from drug experts and other resource speakers in line with the campaign against prohibited drugs.
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