CEBU CITY – The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 leads other police regional offices nationwide in the number of saturation drives and activities aimed at eradicating marijuana, the accomplishment report of the Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed.

The PNP’s Operational Accomplishment Report shows that PRO 7, which is the police office in Central Visayas, has conducted 112 saturation drives in the period covering January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009. This has resulted to the arrest of 698 pushers and users and the filing of cases on 525 others.

In marijuana eradication, PRO 7 conducted 27 activities, including plantation raids and arrests, followed by PRO 12 with 15 activities.

Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Vice Chairman Paul Oaminal said he was impressed by the accomplishments of Central Visayas despite the fact that the PNP does not have special operational funds for an intense anti-drug campaign.

Oaminal believes that saturation drives have been proven to be effective especially to urban areas, as this sends the message to criminal elements that the government exists and is ready to knock them down.

“It gives a sense of communal awareness and awakens respect for public order and safety,” said Oaminal, adding that, “Yes, the drug problem exists in this region but it could not be denied that Government is definitely doing its best,” he said.

Meanwhile, the DDB is pushing for a special court that will hear drug-related cases in order to speed up trials and decongest overloaded regional courts throughout the country.

Former DDB Chairman Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who is now seeking a comeback at the Senate, has expressed worries that in the next six to eight months, if 80 percent of drug-related cases in courts will continue to be dismissed, the next president of this republic will have to face a tough problem on illegal drugs.