P6M worth of prohibited drugs seized in Region 12 in 2010
“Our operations in the past months were quite successful and we posted significant improvements in terms of accomplishments because of the increased cooperation from civilian informants and local government units.[]
A number of our successful operations last year were actually based on information sent through text messages by concerned residents,” he said.
Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
Out of their 548 anti-drug raids and buy-bust operations last year, Adam said they were able to build up some 467 cases for the 428 drug suspects that they arrested.
But he noted that at least 48 individuals or over 11 percent of the arrested illegal drug suspects in the area last year were minors.
“We’re very much concerned about this trend because it appears that the drug syndicates have resorted to using minors to work for them,” he said.
Under the law, Adam said offending minors are considered immune to any charges and they were mandated to turn them over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for custody and proper counseling.
“We’re just hoping that they eventually reform and not return to their old habits again because we’ll just arrest them again and again until the time that we can be able to charge them,” he said.[]
Owing to this, Adam said they decided to provide special focus in their campaigns this year on the reduction of the demand for illegal drugs among young people.
He said they will specifically intensify this year their anti-drug awareness and education program for various school to help address the problem. (Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews)
