SUSPECTED SHABU TRADERS SIGN ANTI-DRUG COVENANT

"STOP Peddling Illegal Drugs Or Get Out Of Talisay City."

Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas gave this warning to the 27 suspected
shabu peddlers and dealers who heeded his invitation to a dialogue Thursday.

After the dialogue, the residents in attendance signed a covenant, pledging
to cooperate with the police in stamping out drug trafficking in the city.

Gullas appealed to them in a meeting organized by Police Chief Cecil Ezra
Sandalo to put an end to their illegal trade or else the full force of the
law will be applied against them.

Sandalo sent out 24 invitations, but 27 came.

Those summoned were persons who had been arrested and charged with drug
possession but are out on bail; those convicted on illegal drug raps but
were granted probation; and those who are suspected by barangay captains to
be involved in the business.

Gullas said early in his term that he wanted to meet the residents suspected
of drug peddling.

But Sandalo, who the mayor chose to lead the Talisay City police in the
campaign, asked to be given time to "know the terrain and to operate against
the big fishes."

Since September last year, Sandalo and his men had netted at least 30 shabu
couriers, including four level-one dealers.

The accomplishment had won for Sandalo and his deputy, Senior Insp. Rogelio
Raymundo, the Chief of Police and Junior Police Officer of the Year awards
in the province last year.

Though proud and elated over Sandalo's performance, Gullas said the local
police could only do so much in the campaign to rid, if not minimize, drug
addiction in the locality.

Talisay, particularly Barangay Tangke, before it became a city, was known to
be where drug peddling was rampant.

Gullas told the assembly that all the progress that the new component city
will attain in his watch would be just for naught if drug trafficking will
not be curbed.

"Whatever accomplishments I may come up with like building a new City Hall,
a new central market, a centralized drainage system for the city and the
acquisition of modern waste disposal equipment, among others, will be for
nothing if drug addiction impoverishes the youth of Talisay," the mayor
said.

Gullas stressed that the well-being of the populace is far more important
than any other thing.

Gullas then listened to the floor's concerns, such as the lack of other
viable means of livelihood, if they reform.

The mayor promised assistance to those who are employable to get jobs.

He, however, insisted that the suspected drug peddlers had to move out of
the city if they don't turn their backs on the illegal trade.

His administration, Gullas said, had thrown its full support behind the
police force in its anti-illegal drug campaign.

An amount of P2 million had been set aside as police intelligence fund in
operations against shabu peddlers.

New police vehicles and communication equipment had also been purchased,
Gullas said.