By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – Police Col. Joeresty Coronica, director of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), emphasized the need for a comprehensive drug education campaign as part of the nationwide effort to combat the drug problem.
Speaking during a media interview on Wednesday, Coronica said the campaign aims to engage various sectors, including religious groups, schools, families, and local communities, in the fight against drug abuse.
He highlighted the role of religious organizations in spreading faith-based messages about the harmful effects of drugs and emphasized the importance of schools in directly educating the youth about the risks of drug use.
Coronica also proposed sharing personal testimonies from former drug users to provide students with real-life perspectives on the devastating impact of addiction.
The campaign would target out-of-school youth, who are often more vulnerable due to neglect, peer pressure, and challenging socioeconomic conditions.
During the New Year’s call with Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) on Tuesday, Coronica said the mayor tasked the City Council to draft an ordinance addressing the demand for illegal drugs. The city’s Public Information Office (PIO) will also collaborate on strategies to reduce demand.
Coronica acknowledged that while law enforcement has made strides in reducing drug supply, addressing the demand remains a significant challenge. “We can’t deny that drugs are a livelihood for some individuals,” he noted.
He attributed the growing drug problem to factors such as peer pressure, neglect, environmental influences, and poverty, which make drug trading a lucrative option for many.
Despite arrests and rehabilitation efforts, many offenders return to the drug trade due to a lack of alternative livelihood options. Coronica expressed concern about linkages among drug suspects in jail, enabling them to return to large-scale drug activities upon release.
“This call for institutionalized drug education reflects the need for a long-term, collaborative approach to tackle the root causes of drug demand beyond short-term enforcement measures,” Coronica said.
From January 13 to 16, BCPO conducted 11 operations, arresting 14 individuals and seizing 530 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP 3.6 million.
Suspected Drug Pusher Arrested
On Wednesday, BCPO arrested a suspected drug pusher, identified as “Ronron,” 26, of Barangay 19, in a buy-bust operation at Barangay Singcang-Airport.
Police Capt. Greeky Cayao, head of Police Station 8, said the suspect had been monitored for a month for alleged drug distribution in the area. Authorities seized 30 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP 204,000 and PHP 500 in marked money. Cayao identified the suspect as a street-level individual.
