ANTI-DRUG DRIVE REDUCED DRUG-AFFECTED BARANGAYS

THE government's drive against illegal drugs reduced the province's
129 drug-affected barangays to 26 as of December last year.

This was learned from Senior Supt. Rodolfo B. Mendoza, Pampanga police
provincial director, during in a program prepared for the arrival of
the anti-drug caravan - Lakbay Kontra Droga - at the Bren Z. Guiao
Sports Complex here Saturday afternoon.

Mendoza said of the 507 barangays in the province, 129 were tagged by
police as "drug-affected" before the creation of the Anti-Illegal
Drugs-Special Operations Task Force (Aidsotf) on June 16, 2003.

He said 247 drug pushers and users were arrested in at least 166
buy-busts, raid, and search operations conducted by the Pampanga
Police Office where 137.8635 grams of shabu and 30.6215 grams of dried
marijuana leaves amounting to P248,460.51 were confiscated.

The provincial police office, Mendoza said, has also neutralized at
least two drug syndicates including the Baby's Group led by one
Theodora Garcia alias Baby and Dua's Group led by one Orlando Dua.

Thousands of Pampangenos welcomed the anti-drug caravan, which started
in Laoag City on Monday and participated in the drug rally facilitated
by the City Government here at the sports complex on Saturday.

Dr. Rommel Garcia, Dangerous Drugs Board undersecretary, led the
burning of several drug pusher effigies during the program.