The Sangguniang Panlunsod (SP) on Tuesday unanimously approved the creation of the Iloilo City Dangerous Drugs Administrative Board (ICDDAB), which will look into complaints concerning illegal drugs.
Councilor R. Leone Gerochi, chair of committee on good governance that reviewed the creation of the ICDDAB, said that “complaints regarding nuisances, particularly involving any place or premises which have been used on two or more occasions as the site of the unlawful sale or delivery of dangerous drugs, or used as drug dens for pot sessions and other similar activities so that the same may be abated expeditiously will be handled by the body.”
“The creation of the ICDDAB will provide an expeditious remedy to address and abate structures that are used in the sale, use or trade of illegal drugs,” he said.
The board will be chaired by the city health officer with the city legal officer and chief of police as members.
Its creation was requested by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog citing Section 52 (a) of “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” that provides for the passage of an ordinance relative to the matter.
Meantime, the SP decided to seek the opinion of the city legal office regarding the communication from the office of Mabilog “strongly urging the council to initiate necessary proceedings” against two barangay captains caught in a police anti-drug operations last week.
Barangay Jolly Penasales of Rizal Lapaz was arrested last August 9 after a buy-bust operation by the Regional Drugs Enforcement Unit (RDEU) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). He was caught selling one sachet of suspected shabu in exchange for PHP15,000. Also four more sachets were recovered from his possession.
Barangay Captain Dominador Deocampo of Tanza, City Proper was arrested along with his wife barangay kagawad Marissa Deocampo and son PO1 Domar Deocampo on August 12.
The arrest was made after a buy-bust operation by the Iloilo City Police Station 1 (ICPS 1) and the PDEA to PO1 Deocampo, who yielded a plastic sachet of suspected shabu. However, his parents, according to a blotter entry, allegedly tried to obstruct the arrest.
Later, the operatives recovered from the elder Deocampo, a black belt bag containing a hand grenade and a plastic canister containing 18 sachets of suspected shabu.
Meantime, Liga ng mga Barangay president Reyland Hervias said that what happened to the two barangay captains was “demoralizing” but such would serve as warning for the other officials to stay away from illegal activities. [via PNA]
