THE Revitalized-Pulis sa Barangay (R-PSB) program of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be playing a major role in the government’s anti-drug drive spearheaded by the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Journal Group learned.

This as PNP Director for Police-Community Relations, Major General Edgar Alan O. Okubo presented to DILG Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. the R-PSB’s anti-drug strategy anchored on the DILG’s BIDA or Buhay ay Ingatan, Droga ay Iwasan program.

Top DILG officials joined Sec. Abalos in hearing the R-PSB concept on fighting illegal drugs as presented by Maj. Gen. Okubo who has been ordered by PNP Chief, General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. to spearhead the PNP program to bring better government service to the ‘poorest of the poor’ as part of the PNP’s effort to address the decades-long communist insurgency.

Maj. Gen. Okubo told the DILG officials that their R-PSB program really has proven its effectiveness in addressing insurgency problem in many parts of the country and has also been proven to be effective as an anti-illegal drugs strategy as evidenced by its accomplishments in various R-PSB deployments in the National Capital Region.

The briefing centered on how the R-PSB program of the national police force will become one of the dependable drivers of the BIDA Program towards attaining drug-free communities nationwide.

Through the R-PSB concept, teams of police officers will be immersed in barangays with high incidence of 8-focus crimes, high population density and high drug affectation.

“Their objective is to sustain the initials gains of the BIDA program, prevent the resurgence of drug affectation in the already drug-cleared barangays, insulate the unaffected communities from drug affectation and most of all secure and ensure the implementation of BIDA projects and initiatives that will ultimately result in a safe and drug-free communities,” said Okubo.

Sec. Abalos applauded the program and assured his all-out support for the already institutionalized police strategy. The DILG chief will also be presenting the same concept to all Regional Peace and Order Councils in the country for its immediate implementation.

The DILG chief has already visited R-PSB deployment areas in Putatan, Muntinlupa to have a dialogue with the police force, community leaders, barangay officials and their other stakeholders.

His visit came a day after local policemen arrested one alias ‘Mocki,’ a 33-year old Grab driver-turned top drug target in Taguig City who yielded 50 grams of shabu worth P340,000 and the P80,000 worth of buy-bust money topped by a marked P1,000 bill during the sting in Pamayanang Diego Silang in BCDA in Ususan area.

Members of the Southern Police District Drug Enforcement Unit led the successful buy-bust operation, said SPD director, Brigadier Gen. Mark D. Pespes.

Sec. Abalos also led a multi-sectoral dialogue in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City to discuss new government plans and programs to better address the drug problem.

In his message to the participants, the DILG chief discussed the root-based approach of the Marcos government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign and the significant roles of all agencies involved in the program.

He also highlighted two important development in the campaign: first of which is the aftercare of drug offenders once they are released from prison and enrolled to the livelihood programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“ This would address the 1/3 of the total number of prisoners that becomes repeat offenders,” he said.

Second is the implementation of the PNP R-PSB program which he admitted has been proven to be effective in community-based policing, strengthening barangay based institutions and capacitating local special organizations.

Various concerns were raised during the meeting such as the reduction of bail for indigent offenders that may be prone to abuse; abuse in the use of plea bargaining by drug offenders; capacitation of Civil Security Organizations to help in the drug clearing efforts;

the process of delisting of personalities in the Drugs Watchlist that impedes the drug clearing in the Barangay; the presence of insulating witnesses in seizure of illegal drug contrabands incidental to a valid arrest; and failure to comply with the conditions of the plea bargaining agreement.

As a result, the DILG chief instructed the National Capital Region Police Office headed by Major General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. to identify barangays in Metro Manila that would be included in the list of Drug Affected Barangays for R-PSB deployment.

He also encouraged everyone to once again approach the drug problem in the lense of a whole of government approach.

During the meeting, PNP Director for Police-Community Relations, Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan O. Okubo presented the concept of the Revitalized-Pulis sa Barangay and its accomplishments in various barangays in NCRPO particularly in Bgy. Putatan in Muntinlupa City where there was a noted 67 percent reduction in crime incidence or from 37 to 12 incidence before and during the R-PSB deployment.

Sec. Abalos emphasized that the BIDA program aims to comprehensively address drug-related issues as he highlighted the alarming statistic that 70 percent of all incarcerations in the country are drug-related, with only a third of those serving their sentences.

His proposed solution is simple: individuals released from prison will be provided with employment for one year.

Sec. Abalos likewise underscored the vital importance of collaboration among all agencies, with a particular focus on the role of the PNP’s Community Policing Program entitled “Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay or R-PSB program which he said should be amplified throughout Metro Manila.

The DILG chief at the same time urged everyone, especially families, schools, children, and all relevant agencies, to actively participate in ensuring children’s proper nutrition.