IF there are individuals who continue peddling illegal substances, the bloody drug war might continue.
This is the statement of Police Brigadier General John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police chief, in response to questions surrounding the death of Leonor Jalandoon who was killed in a police anti-narcotics operation 8:10 a.m. of April 28, 2019 inVictorias City, Negros Occidental.
Members of Victorias City Police Station Anti-Drug Enforcement Unit and Bacolod City Police Office killed Jalandoon, leader of the Jalandoon Drug group, after he allegedly put up a fight with police operatives.
His live-in partner, Janine Cruz, was arrested.
With thousands arrested and scores killed during police operations since July 2016, drug operations continue in the region.
But it should not be misconstrued that police are not gaining headway in the campaign against illegal drugs.
Rather, some people find illegal drug trade as a lucrative business. They couldnt simply turn away from the easy money they could gain in engaging in illegal drugs, Bulalacao said.
Persons who intend to join in the illegal drug trade might suffer Jalandoons fate, the regions top cop warned.
Jalandoon, a resident of Sitio Sibucao, Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, had long been on the police watchlist.In fact, he was considered as PRO-6s high-value target (HVT) Level 3 drug personality.
As of April 17, 2019, there are 642 personalities on the HVT list.
Including Jalandoon, 37 individuals are lumped in the HVT Level 3 Category.
On the other hand, there are 238 names in the HVT Level 2 category and 368 in Level 1.
Bulalacao explained that the list is updated almost on a weekly basis.
And from the looks of it, Jalandoon might not be the last personality to get killed if there are still individuals who would opt to fight government operatives, he said.
During the operation, police seized P2.7 million worth of shabu from Jalandoon.
Based on the confiscated illegal drugs, Bulalacao said he could be considered one of the regions drug lords.
But he could not confirm if Jalandoon is the person being alluded to be President Rodrigo Duterte as the one who took over the illegal drug operations of the slain suspected drug lord Melvin Odicta Sr.
For now, Bulalacao said that their accomplishment on illegal drugs is one of the biggest factors that led to the reduction of the regions crime rate and the improvement of crime environment.
In order to maintain peace and order and ensure security and safety of the public, we will show no let-up in our fight against illegal drugs with high value targets on the top of our priority list, he said.
