Newly installed Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) director Col. Lorenzo Batuan, the first Boholano to take over as the province’s top cop in over a decade, highlighted the war on illegal drugs as among his administration’s priority agenda.
Batuan, who assumed office on Monday, said his anti-drug campaign will focus on the reduction of drug supply that make it into the island province.
“Ang common strategy is padaghanay og dakop kanang confiscation from the streets. Ang ato is supply reduction, usa sa atong pangusgan in coordination with other agencies like the PDEA [Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency],” said Batuan in a press briefing.
It has long been believed that illegal drugs sold in the province are shipped from Cebu and other nearby localities, considering that there has been no noted drug laboratories in Bohol.
According to Batuan, he also intends to intensify the BPPO’s anti-drug use information and education drive to help deter residents from using illegal drugs.
“Walay mamaligya kung walay mo palit. Magkuyog mana. Mag adopt ta og proactive approach. Ato jung ipahibaw sa mga tawo na dili gyud na maayo,” said Batuan.
Batuan added that he will be reminding police officers to follow protocol in the conduct of anti-drug operations.
He noted that there had been battery of complaints hurled against cops in relation to alleged human rights violations.
“Daghan mga pasangil na mga extrajudicial killings, daghan silang mga gi-alegar. Mao ato jung ipatuman ang rule of law in the conduct of operations, we will make sure that there is respect for human rights,” said Batuan.
Batuan was was named by the Philippine National Police Office as the new director last week through a directive issued by Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 director Brig. Gen. Roderick Alba.
He replaced Col. Osmundo Salibo who left his post logging a drug haul of P22 million worth of shabu in the past 10 months, particularly from January 1 to October 25, 2022.
The drugs were seized from over 300 arrested drug personalities in the same period. (AD)