DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 7 July) – A total of 287 illegal drugs suspects surrendered to police authorities, 39 were arrested, and five were killed in the city from July 1 to 5.
Outgoing Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Milgrace Driz told reporters Wednesday that most of those who surrendered came mostly in Bunawan, Toril, Buhangin, and Sta. Ana areas.
She said those illegal drug suspects surrendered to all 12 police stations here.
Driz added that the DCPO conducted 34 buy-bust operations under the new anti-illegal drug campaign of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa called “Campaign Plan Double Barrel” that targets both the drug-lords and the street-level drug pushers.
“This is what the new DCPO director Michael John Dubria wants to be intensified with regards to the implementation of the mandate given from the higher office,” she said.
The newly-minted Dubria retained the program of his predecessor, Senior Supt. Vicente Danao Jr., dubbed “Isumbong mo Kay CD” that allows the public to report directly to the local police chief any illegal drug operations in the community.
Dubria maintained that the police follow protocols in all operations and they shoot the suspects only if they fight with the authorities.
“They were killed because they fought the police. Not because you have involvement in drugs, you will be automatically killed,” he stressed.
Driz added that they “have to preserve the lives of our colleagues sa lahat ng operations, including buy-bust.”
She said that not all those who surrendered will be taken in by DCPO’s rehabilitation center, given its current capacity, but some of them will be referred to the facility run by the City Government of Davao in Tugbok District.
