'Oplan Double Barrel’ leads to the surrender of 38 drug personalities in Zambo Sur; 4 arrested

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, July 2 (PNA) – Thirty-eight drug personalities have voluntarily surrendered to government authorities in the nearby towns of Dimataling and Lapuyan while four others were arrested in separate anti-drug operations in this province.

Senior Supt. Michael Nicolas, provincial police director, told the Philippines News Agency (PNA) that 19 of the 38 drug personalities who surrendered Friday afternoon were from Dimataling town while the other 19 from Lapuyan municipality.

Drug personalities refer to individuals who are either involved in the trade of prohibited drugs or purely drug users.

Nicolas said the surrender of drug personalities was made possible through massive and aggressive campaign dubbed as “Oplan Double Barrel,” launched by the police in coordination with the local government units to include the barangay officials.

Nicolas said the campaign is in line with the declaration of war by President Rodrigo Duterte against the proliferation of drugs in the country.

Under the campaign, Nicolas said the surrenderees will have to undergo certain procedures and their willingness to stop the illegal activities as well as to support the war against prohibited drugs.

He said they will relentlessly pursue those drug personalities who would continue their illicit activities.

Meanwhile, he identified those arrested in the anti-drugs campaign as Mark Angelou Ferrer, 21; Ricardo Same, 38; Faisal Cabugatan Khong alias Fai, 34; and, Hilda Ampak, 43.

He said Ferrer and Same were arrested in a buy-bust operation Friday afternoon in Purok 4, Barangay Upper Tiparak, Tambulig town.

He said Khong and Ampak were arrested in a separate buy-bust operation on the same day in Purok Sunshine, Barangay Santiago, this city.

The arresting team confiscated from the suspects’ possession prohibited drugs and paraphernalia.

Nicolas said the suspects were detained while appropriate charges are set to be filed against them. (PNA)
ZST/TPGJR/HIROHITO D. CADION