Lucena drug-clearing drive faces test as new personalities emerge

By Nimfa L. Estrellado-Laurino PIA Quezon Information Officer Cecile C. Maloles leads a Kapihan sa PIA Quezon discussion with PDEA Regio...

By Nimfa L. Estrellado-Laurino

PIA Quezon Information Officer Cecile C. Maloles leads a Kapihan sa PIA Quezon discussion with PDEA Region IV-A Regional Public Information Officer Mary Ann Mahilong Lorenzo on drug-clearing efforts and illegal drug concerns in Lucena City. (Pacific Mall Lucena)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Drug-cleared barangays in Lucena risk losing their status if they fail to act within 60 days after PDEA formally identifies a new drug personality operating in their area. The requirement places continued responsibility on local officials to respond whenever new illegal drug activity surfaces after a community has already been cleared.

During Kapihan sa PIA Quezon at Pacific Mall Lucena hosted by Cecile Maloles, PDEA Region IV-A Regional Public Information Officer Mary Ann Lorenzo said several city barangays recently received drug-clearing certifications, including communities that successfully retained an earlier cleared classification. Lorenzo said she did not have the complete barangay-by-barangay breakdown during the forum but committed to provide PIA Quezon with the verified list of cleared and retained communities.

Local media raised concerns because anti-drug operations continue to be reported in parts of Lucena even as more barangays secure or retain cleared status. Lorenzo explained that renewed drug activity can still emerge in previously cleared communities, requiring authorities and barangay officials to respond to newly identified personalities.

“Pag sinabi po natin drug affectation, ang ibig sabihin po nito, ang isang lugar o isang barangay ay meron pong presensya ng mga drug personalities, as well as meron pong mga illegal drug activities. As to level po ng affectation, meron po tayong tinatawag na slightly affected barangay, moderately affected barangay, and seriously affected barangay,” Lorenzo said.

Barangay Cotta was specifically raised during the discussion as one Lucena community that had not yet secured drug-cleared status at the time of the Kapihan forum. Lorenzo said affected communities are required to address identified drug personalities and carry out the interventions needed under the barangay drug-clearing program.

PDEA continues monitoring communities after they are declared drug-cleared and informs the concerned barangay whenever authorities identify a new drug personality within its jurisdiction. Once that notice is received, the barangay has 60 days to take appropriate action before its response is reviewed during the next scheduled deliberation.

“Kapag po meron pong na-monitor si PDEA na drug personality, kinakausap naman po ang barangay. Kung meron pong drug personality na bago, kailangan po nilang gumawa ng aksyon; otherwise, puwede po silang matanggalan ng certification,” Lorenzo said.

Failure to act within the 60-day period does not immediately cancel the barangay’s drug-cleared status when the deadline expires. Lorenzo said the community may instead face possible revocation during the next deliberation, where authorities assess whether sufficient action was taken against the newly identified personality.

The Lucena campaign forms part of Quezon’s broader barangay drug-clearing effort, where PDEA placed the province’s recorded drug affectation at 15.38 percent under its current clearing matrix. The figure provides wider provincial context for Lucena’s continuing challenge of maintaining cleared communities while authorities monitor new drug personalities and illegal drug activities.