BY ASANGAN T. MADALE
Following the ambush of Governor Mamintal “Bombit” A, Adiong Jr last February 17, 2023 on their way convoy to the municipalities of Wao and Amai Manabilang killing three security personnel, and wounding himself and aide, Chaired by Acting Governor Mohammad Khalid Raki-in Adiong convenes yesterday the members the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), to develop srategies to mitigate the impact of and reduce the demand for illegal drugs in the province. Top Officials said .”
The agenda included security and barangay drug-clearing updates from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office (LDSPPO), 1st Marine Brigade, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
LTC Eduard L. Sia-ed of 103rd Infantry Brigade updated the councils on the AFPs’ disposition of forces, threat situation, military operations, and security assessment.
He highlighted the two (2) main threat groups in the province, namely, Daulah Islamiyah – Lanao (DI-L) and Communist Terrorist Group (CTG). These groups, accordingly, concentrated in areas of Butig, Lumbaca Unayan, Marogong, Pagayawan, and Sultan Dumalondong.
On the part of PNP Police Major Muhiddin G. Pagayawan of LDSPPO presented to the council their anti-illegal drug operations.
He said 29 anti-drug operations were conducted that resulted to the arrest of 45 suspects and the confiscation of an estimated 965.21 grams of shabu, 25,000 fully grown marijuana plant, and 1 kilo of marijuana, with an estimated amount of 6,563,428 pesos for shabu and 5,120,000 pesos for marijuana.
Further, Police Major Pagayawan provided updates on the ambush incident happened in Maguing. He said the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) for Governor Adiong, with the legal council of the province, already filed criminal charges against the three (3) identified suspects for four (4) counts of murder, three (3) counts of frustrated murder, and multiple attempted murder.
Intelligence Agent V Fim Anthony P. Naive, I discussed the significant operations, BDCP, and assessment of the PDEA. He said 20 buy-bust operations were conducted in the province, resulting to the arrest of 1 drug personality and confiscation of 250 grams of shabu with an estimated value of 1,700,000 pesos.
According to the BDCP updates he presented, out of 1,159 barangays, there are 721 drug-affected barangays. IA V Naive confirmed that there are 9 drug-cleared municipalities, same to that record of the LDSPPO. However, he underscored the parameters to be considered in declaring a drug-cleared municipality.
These parameters are first, all barangays are drug-cleared and must undergo quarterly validation; second, there must be a drug-free workplace program; third, Trainer’s Training on Community-Based Anti-Illegal Drug Advocacy (CBAIDA) for BADAC Committee on Advocacy members must be conducted; and fourth, the establishment of Balay Silangan.
He informed the council that only the municipalities of Calanogas, Kapatagan, Kapai, Lumbatan, and Wao have established Balay Silangan. In terms of CBAIDA, only the municipalities of Amai Manabilang, Calanogas, Kapai, Kapatagan, Madamba, Masiu, and Pagayawan have complied.
Supt. Jeraniel Chavez Taporco of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Lanao del Sur also presented their accomplishments on fire prevention, response, and logistics.
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