By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) yesterday confirmed drug personalities in the city may be stockpiling illegal drugs in preparation for the upcoming MassKara Festival, which is scheduled to formally begin in October. Earlier this month, however, Silver MassKara Festival Organization festival director Eli Tajanlangit said the annual event would launch on September 8 in order to unveil a “major art installation.”
The revelation comes after recent drug-related arrests in the city.
BCPO spokesperson Police Lt. Colonel Ariel Pico, pointed out a case where the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit arrested a certain Joele Beate in the city’s Barangay 6 and confiscated P900,000 worth of shabu; along with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrest of Raniel Rivera in the city’s Barangay Bata, wherein an estimated P374,00 worth of shabu was recovered.
In addition, the PDEA intercepted P6.8 million worth of shabu in Sibulan, Negros Oriental last week. Authorities believe it is possible the suspects were transporting the drugs due to several upcoming celebrations. More recently, an estimated P2 million worth of shabu was seized late Monday night in Dumaguete City’s Barangay Cadawinonan.
Pico echoed PDEA sentiment, noting, drug suspects and criminal syndicates operating in the city may have started stockpiling illegal drugs in time for the MassKara Festival. He said drugs are in demand particularly during festivities as some revelers use illegal drugs to stay awake.
In response to the recent arrests, the BCPO official said the department has since stepped up monitoring in order to intercept any drugs being smuggled into the city’s entry points.
He added, “The recent seizures will definitely impact the circulation of illegal drugs in the city.”/DGB, WDJ