EDITORIAL

Timely counter-offensives vs illegal drugs

THE latest marching orders of Pangasinan’s acting police provincial director, P/Col. Redrico Maranan, are
very reassuring that the war on drugs in the province will further intensify amid reports of slowly
resurging activities of drug syndicates even as 347 barangays remain drug-affected.

The recent timely interception of the P124-milllion worth of shabu in Urdaneta City by our law enforcers
is worrisome for the thousands of families that remain vulnerable to the illegal drug trade. That the
interception led to the arrest of undocumented Chinese nationals showed an indicator that drug
syndicates have become bolder in intensifying their illegal operations in the province again.

The series of activities ordered by Col. Maranan to the town and city police chiefs augurs well for his
plan to chase the drug syndicates out of the province.

His order to the police chiefs to conduct at least two missions against identified drug dealers weekly and
daily checkpoints is certainly reassuring. It speaks of his determination to finally keep all the province’s
towns and cities drug-cleared.

Hopefully, the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office will resume issuing regular updates to the local media
of the status of police operations vs. drugs in all towns and cities in order to keep communities
continuously well advised and fully apprised of the government’s campaign in their localities.

We wish Col. Maranan and his police chiefs success in their renewed campaign vs. illegal drugs.

Junking Junjun

STILL smarting from his resounding loss to his sister Abby in the last mayoralty race in Makati City,
Junjun Binay was perpetually banned from public office on May 28 by the Court of Appeals. In his
decision and concurred in by Ramon Bato Jr. and Ramon Cruz, Justice Roberto Martin affirmed the
Ombudman’s findings in 2017 that Junjun was guilty of serious dishonesty and grave misconduct when
he was still mayor of Makati.

Junjun was found violating RA No. 9184 for failing to ensure advertisement and posting requirements for
the P1.3 billion, 10-storey Makati Science High School deal, plus manipulating the bidding process in
favor of the winner, Hillmarc’s CC. Junjun also has graft and corruption cases pending at the
Sandiganbayan. In his verdict, Martin noted irregularities, like sham newspaper announcements,
falsified bidding documents and undue haste in the awarding of contracts. Justice served, period.
 Jocelyn Dela Cruz

jocelyndc2005@gmail.com

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WAR ON DRUGS
PNP prov’l chief issues new operational plans
LINGAYEN—The acting Pangasinan police director ordered the 48 police chiefs in the
province to conduct at least two anti-drug operations, serving search warrants weekly
and report their accomplishments in the continuing war on drugs in the province.

“Our campaign is continuing (on illegal drugs),” P/Col. Redrico Maranan told local
newsman in an interview.

Maranan, who assumed his post on May 28, said, “As a matter of fact, I am requiring all
the chiefs of police to implement search warrant operations on drugs every week at
least two in cities and Class A municipalities.”

He said smaller municipalities are required to implement at least one search warrant on
illegal drugs weekly.

He added the search warrants for illegal guns should also be implemented and
checkpoint teams should operate in each town every day.

“Every station is required to have two checkpoints operating 24 hours,” Maranan added.

The provincial mobile force has been directed to organize four checkpoint teams to help
cities and Class A municipalities.

“All in all, we have at least 60 checkpoint operations that are being implemented
province-wide,” he said.

He said even the Special Weapons and Tactics members are ordered to do patrol
operations and on-the-spot checks especially in commercial areas.

Priority areas, he said, are Dagupan City, San Carlos City, Lingayen and other crime-
prone cities and municipalities. (PhilStar Wire Service)

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