By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) proposed a P24 million anti-drug security plan yesterday morning during a closed-door briefing at Camp Alfredo Montelibano. The governor noted, the briefing was attended by several mayors from across the province.
Lacson said NOPPO director, Police Colonel Romeo Baleros, presented a 10-year plan to combat illegal drugs and contraband in the province. He pointed out, the proposed budget would go towards the “shield security plan,” along with organizing trainings and acquiring necessary equipment.
Earlier, Baleros said the plan aims to secure the shorelines of the province and would also prevent the entry of potentially dangerous groups into the province.
The NOPPO chief explained the “shield” concept will utilize the resources of local government units and barangays, including Bantay Dagat, to secure shorelines and monitor the entry of contraband.
Meanwhile, Baleros admitted the Philippine National Police Maritime Command, Philippine Navy, and Coast Guard are facing difficulty securing the coastlines of Negros and noted drug groups are now “very smart” in the delivery and trafficking of illegal drugs.
The NOPPO director said he will recommend to Lacson, along with Philippine National Police headquarters, the hiring of narcotics dogs in order to boost their campaign against the entry of illegal drugs.
Ports in Escalante City, Sagay City, Cadiz City, San Carlos City, and Toboso, all of which are located in northern Negros, have been identified by the police to be among the entry points of illegal drugs in the province.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has also utilized Task Force Buglas in a supporting role, the group primarily focused on combating terrorism.
Meanwhile, Lacson said two chemists from the Regional Police Office-6 (RPO-6) will arrive in August to man the NOPPO crime lab, where items recovered from drug raids were being sent for analysis./DGB, WDJ