Batuan is now free from illegal drugs again after the local government unit declared and shortly after rescinded its claim of being cleared of narcotics activities in December last year, according to the municipality’s mayor.

Both the Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council and Municipal Peace and Order Council have declared in January that all of the town’s villages are drug-free, said Batuan Mayor Dodo Jumawid.

Based on Batuan authorities’ data, 300 self-confessed drug personalities have surrendered under “Oplan Tokhang” and they are all being tightly monitored.

According to Jumawid, the town had to undergo several verification processes before it was cleared of drug activities such as a series of monitoring operations by the police and village and health officials.

The town has been declared drug-free twice, added Jumawid.

Officials had deemed Batuan cleared of illegal drugs in December. However, further monitoring indicated that some surrenderees resumed involvement in narcotics activities.

But the mayor made an assurance that this time, the self-confessed drug users and pushers in the town remain free from use and sale of narcotics based on monitoring operations by police and village officials.

While the municipality holds the distinction of being drug-free, Jumawid admitted that maintaining it would be a tall order as drug personalities from other towns could expand operations into Batuan.

This has prompted the local government unit to further tighten security in the municipality by recording entries into the town, particularly of those on board motorcycles with no plate numbers. (Allen Doydora)