POLICE PURSUE 'CLEARING OPERATIONS' IN 7 BRGY'S

The Bacolod City Police Office's anti-drug campaign will focus on
seven barangays, which Senior Supt. Vicente Porras hopes to "clear"
before the year ends.

Ponteras yesterday ordered the Bacolod City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special
Operation Task Group to clear of drugs barangays 2, 3, 22, 27, 29,
Punta-Taytay and Villamonte.

Brgy. 2 has been tagged as "seriously affected" by drugs due to the
presence of drug pushers, while the six others are considered
"threatened" to be affected. They (police) have until December to
clear these areas of drugs, Ponteras said.

He added that the local PNP needs to re-focus the campaign against
illegal drugs after their operatives slowed down in anti illegal
drugs-related operations because of the recent elections, during which
their emphasis was more on maintaining peace and order.

The clearing of seven barangays in Bacolod will include intensified
monitoring of the entry of drugs during the MassKara celebration in
October.

The Bacolod Police is expecting drug shipments from Manila, Mindanao
or Cebu to enter in Bacolod. That is why "we are doubling our drug
monitoring efforts," Ponteras said.

The price of a sachet of shabu has increased from P2,000 to P3,000 due
to the scarcity of supply, Ponteras noted.