Of the 47 towns and lone component city in the province, six have no barangays which have been cleared of illegal drug activities, said the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO).

Based on data from the BPPO Community Relations Branch (CRB), illegal drug activities remain ongoing in all of the barangays in Tagbilaran City, Dauis, Carmen, Garcia Hernandez, Loay and Sevilla.

Since the launch of the Duterte administration’s campaign against drugs, 95 of Bohol’s 1,109 barangays have been declared drug-free by Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (MADAC) and 164 were cleared by Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC) while 17 have not been affected by drug activities.

Meanwhile, BPPO CRB chief Supt. George Vale urged local government units to intensify their drive in clearing barangays of illegal drug activities which has already been achieved by other villages.

Vale said that the recent disclosure should serve as wake-up call to localities which have yet to eradicate drug trade and a challenge to already drug-free areas to maintain the distinction.

For his part, Liga ng mga Barangay Bohol president and Ex-Officio Provincial Board Member Romulo Cepedoza admitted that stamping out drug trade in a barangay is no easy task citing several hurdles in eradicating drugs in villages.

Nonetheless, the official urged barangay captains to increase efforts to surmount the many processes needed in declaring an area free of illegal drug activities.

So far, only the town of Batuan has been declared drug-free by both the MADAC and BADAC. (Rey Tutas)