The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental is looking into reports of some mayors and other local officials who may have links to the illegal drugs trade.
But, Sr. Supt. Harris Fama disclosed last July 11 on his way out of the province that the names could not be revealed yet as these have to be validated.
Also, he stressed that the campaign against illegal drugs will not favor anyone, not even those who are in high positions of government or public stature.
Sr. Supt. Fama was reacting to Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo’s statement that the PNP in the province must go after those engaged in the illegal drugs trade, suggesting that some are hiding under the protection of a congressman.
Fama granted a final interview with the media as he departed for a new assignment, with Sr. Supt. Nestor Tiempo taking his place at the helm of the Negros Oriental PNP Provincial Office (NORPPO).
Sr. Supt. Fama explained that the PNP has categorized into two, namely high value targets and low value targets, the subjects for massive police anti-illegal drugs operations in the country.
His explanation comes as public clamor is mounting here on the surrender of “small fry”, with reference to the “drug pushers and users” numbering by the thousands who had voluntarily cooperated with the PNP over the past two weeks.
Not one of the more than 6,000 who surrendered to the police in the different towns and cities in Negros Oriental was identified as “big time” or “drug lord”, Fama had confirmed.
He went on to explain that the PNP at the provincial level is concentrating on the low value targets, meaning, street-level pushing.
There will be a regional and national action team to go after the big-time drug personalities, according to Fama.
They could either come over to carry out their police operations against these personalities, or, if a suspect is somewhere else, beyond Negros Oriental, “there could be a second approach”, Fama added.
Fama did not elaborate.
This applies to the whole country, and nobody really knows, was all Fama could say regarding the involvement of big-time personalities in the illegal drugs trade.
A high value target, according to him, disposes of one kilo of shabu or more a day.
Meanwhile, newly-assumed Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NORPPO) provincial director Sr. Supt. Nestor Tiempo has announced that his priority is not only Oplan Tokhang and Oplan Double Barrel but Oplan Wagtang, to totally eliminate illegal drugs in the province.
Oplan “Wagtang,” which means to eradicate in English is the instructions of Police Regional Office 18 (PRO-18) regional director Chief Supt. Conrad Capa for the conduct of more anti drug operations and not to wait for the voluntary surrender of suspected drug users and peddlers.
Sr. Supt Tiempo’s action plan “Oplan Wagtang” would mean sustained efforts to cut the supply and demand of prohibited drugs and in the process identify the criminals for the conduct of police operations against them.
He said the mission of Oplan Wagtang is to eradicate the criminals, drug lords, and police scalawags, which is his priority and that his command is already starting to validate voluminous information given to him. (PNA)
