By THE RANAO STAR

MARAWI CITY: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have declared Lanao del Sur (LDS) municipality of Kapatagan as a “drug cleared” town in a simple ceremony recently held at the town hall making it as among the few towns in the province certified drug free.

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)-PDEA Regional Director Juvenal B. Azurin validated the resolution of the Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) that certified the town on January 17, 2020 as drug cleared which was attested by Mayor Raida Maglangit and certified by OIC of Kapatagan Municipal Police Station PMSG Hamid M. Balimbingan.

Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office (LDSPPO) represented by PLtCol Edgar Batoon and BARMM-Ministry of Interior and Local Government LDS Provincial Director McMillan Lucman concurred the declaration with their presence during the ceremony.

A locality is declared drug-free if it meets the following: Non-availability of drug supply; Absence of drug den, pusher, user; Absence of clandestine drug laboratory; Active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities; Existence of drug awareness, preventive education and information; and Existence of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk

Maglangit commended the members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Kapatagan led by Vice mayor Nhazruddin B. Maglangit, local government employees and staff and various village (barangay) chairmen whose hard work and cooperation have made this achievement possible.

She thanked the town’s multisectoral leaders from the traditional, religious, women and youth for their cooperation in realizing this feat.

She also thanked the PDEA, the PNP and other government agencies for recognizing the effort of her people in making Kapatagan not only a drug-free but also a peaceful town. – RSP