ITOGON, Benguet – Municipal Mayor Victorio Palangdan of this town issued a stern warning against illegal drug pushers not to infest their schools again and their town or else they will face the full force of the law and the community.
Palangdan admitted during a media forum last September 9 that illegal drug especially the shabu had become their concern in schools and mining areas.
After their successful drive against illegal drugs in their schools with the help of the community and the Philippine National Police the mayor received information that some small scale miners are now users of illegal drug.
“These pushers shifted their trade to mining areas of this town,” Palangdan added
He said that they have already coordinated this matter with concern agencies to verify this report and for possible conduct of drug test to determine who among the miners users of this illegal drug are.
Municipal councilor Arnel Bahingawan added though they do not have specific record on miners using drugs the veracity of the information is supplemented with testimonies from the family members of these miners.
Palangdan is elated that the launching of Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan (UBAS) as the towns frontline in the fight against illegal drugs and graft and corruption practices has become an effective community approach to free their schools from illegal drug.
He said that two individuals hooked into prohibited drug undergo rehabilitation and another one is about to be sent in a rehabilitation center.
Palangdan added that the total crusade against illegal drugs with the help of the civilian volunteer organizations resulted in the identification of people responsible in the proliferation drugs in the town.
The miners are target of these drug pushers because they have the money to buy the illegal drugs.
Councilor Bahingawan added that probably because of the nature of their work some miners were enticed to use shabu.