PDEA 7 campaign vs illegal drugs in C. Visayas improves in 2011
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, March 6 (PIA) -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Visayas (PDEA) 7 arrested 1,075 suspects in 2011, higher than the previous year.
PDEA 7 Legal Officer Atty. Mauro Licen said they have filed a total of 1,195 cases in court last year against violators of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“The PDEA 7 in combined operations with the police and other law enforcement agencies conducted a total of 848 anti-illegal drug operations in 2011 that resulted to the arrest of 1,075 drug personalities,” Licen said.
Licen said the total operations led to the confiscation of illegal drugs including shabu amounting to P59.77M.
The significant increase in accomplishments was highlighted by the PDEA 7 official compared to its accomplishments in 2010 which only recorded 574 combined operations on illegal drugs.
“In 2010, only 713 persons were arrested and 741 cases elevated in court,” Licen bared.
Licen further said the confiscation of illegal drugs in 2010 only amounted to P40.77 million.
“Comparing the data between 2010 and 2011, we can say that there is a significant increase in accomplishments in the continuing fight against illegal drugs,” Licen declared.
Licen said the problem of illegal drugs is not an overnight case and that “we need to work hand in hand in the fight against illegal drugs.”
Most of the anti-illegal drug operations were conducted in Cebu as Licen admitted that being a metropolitan area, the province has the highest number of illegal drug cases compared to the three provinces of Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor in Central Visayas.
“Where the economy is good, the problem of illegal drugs is also seen because of the market demand,” Licen claimed.
The PDEA 7 official however, assured the problem of illegal drugs in Central Visayas is “manageable” and “under control.” (PIA-Cebu)
==========
'Disregard text scam, fraud messages' - NTC-7
By Amorganda A. Saludar
CEBU CITY March 7 (PIA) -- The National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) in Region 7 advised the public to disregard text scams and foul messages being circulated through mobile phones and internet.
NTC-7 Regional Director Engr. Jess Laureno relayed this during the recent Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO) forum where he urged the public to immediately report to their office the text scams and hoax messages they receive.
Laureno said NTC can block mobile phone numbers once they are traced and proven that these numbers are used as channels for text scams and hoax messages.
“We want the exact copy of the message being sent just forward the message, the number of the mobile phone sending it and your complete name,” Laureno said.
But he also clarified that this process is only applicable to text scams.
Forms can also be downloaded from their website which they can fill out and submit to the NTC office.
NTC-7 Legal Counsel and Information Officer Allan Macaraya said there must be a confirmation and verification if the complaint regarding text scams and other fraud messages are proven correct.
“The complainant has to sworn an oath as to the truth of the message received,” Macaraya said.
On promotional texts circulating thru mobile phones coming from a content provider, Macaraya advised the public to be vigilant and to not immediately believe the content of the message.
“Check the number if it is just an ordinary 11-digit number, most probably there is no truth to the message because legitimate content providers usually use only three to four-digit numbers,” he explained.
He also disclosed that they have been lobbying a proposal to the congress for the compulsory registration of all sim cards due to its profileration and availability.
Sim cards can easily be bought along the sidewalks.
“This is to protect the consumer. But since it is still at the Congress, for now we advise the public not to reply to text scams,” Macaraya said. (rmn/AS/PIA-CEBU)