TOP COP TO MONITOR DRUG USE IN CITY'S BARANGAYS

A top-ranking police official will personally monitor the proliferation of
illegal drugs in barangays. Deputy Director General Gregorio Aglipay,
deputy police director for administration, said he will make the rounds of
the city's barangays to monitor the extent of drug use here.

In a press conference at Camp Catitipan yesterday, Aglipay said that he
will first visit Bankerohan, considered to be the lair of various teenage
gangs, to meet with barangay officials.

He said after Bankerohan is cleared of the drug problem, it will later
serve as model to other barangays in the city and other parts of the region.

Aglipay said that the government's fight against illegal drugs will not
only focus on drug lords and laboratories but also down to the barangay
level and ignite the barangay officials' participation in the campaign.

He said that even with the recent major drug raids in Metro Manila, the
drug problem still poses a big headache to the government.

Aglipay said he had met with Archbishop Fernando Capalla to discuss the
government's anti-drug campaign strategy with the church leader and to
explore the assistance of the church in the drug drive.

Meanwhile, regional police director Chief Supt. Isidro Lapena said out of
the 13 big-time drug groups operating in the region, 10 were already
neutralized.

But Lapena said that no drug lords and laboratories have been identified to
operate here.