Six more villages in Antequera are now drug-free, said the municipality’s chief executive on Monday, two weeks after declaring that drug activities have been eradicated in nine of the town’s 21 barangays.

According to Antequera Mayor Jose Pahang, the 15 villages were declared drug-free by both the Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council and Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council.

The drug-free barangays include Ceiling, Danicop, Ubujan, Tupas, Cansibuan, Tabuan, Tagubaas, Angilan, Quinapon-an, Bitaugan,Sto. Rosario, Canlaas, Mag-aso, Bungahan and Bicahan, said Pahang.

The mayor attributed the progress in Antequera’s anti-drug campaign to the support of municipal and barangay officials, and the town’s intervention programs for its 447 drug surrenderees.

Some of those who surrendered under Oplan Tokhang have undergone intervention and have been extended assistance such as livelihood opportunities to prevent resurgence of drug activities

Meanwhile, Senior Inspector Marcos Lopez has taken over the helm of the Antequera Police Station after he was transferred from Inabanga.

Despite the municipal police’s lack of personnel, both officials expressed optimism that the entire town will soon be declared drug-free, particularly as the Philippine National Police’s war on drugs has been revived. (Rey Tutas)