At least 80 barangays have been declared free from illegal drugs in less than five months of intensified narco-war in the province of Aklan, according to Chief Inspector Bernard Ufano, chief of Provincial Intelligence Branch.
There are 327 barangays in 17 municipalities across the province of Aklan. Only 65 percent or 214 barangays were drug-affected before the massive barangay drug clearing operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Ufano said Boracay Island and its three barangays of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag and Yapak remained infested areas of illegal drugs in Malay, Aklan.
The town of Buruanga’s eight barangays were also declared drug-free, leaving no barangays currently drug-infested.
Three barangays of Numancia, five in Tangalan, eight in New Washington, nine in Malinao and 18 in Banga also passed the drug-free parameters and were certified drug-free by the municipal police stations.
“To maintain the drug-free status, the barangays should conduct symposium and seminars on drug awareness and community-based rehabilitation programs and support activities in coordination with civic and non-government organizations,” Ufano added.
These drug-free barangays undergone phases of PNP's campaign and now on the third phase of its fight against illegal drugs.
As of December 13, the anti-drug operations resulted to the arrest of 138 drug suspects across the province, 87 of those apprehended were in the police drug watch list. More than 1,800 drug users and pushers also voluntarily surrendered to local authorities.
The Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) kicked off its barangay drug-clearing operations on September after the signing of Inter-Agencies Memorandum of Agreement.
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
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