QCPD, Muslim leaders to focus antidrug drive on 7 areas

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has identified seven Muslim communities as pilot areas for its new initiative in addressing the problem of illegal drugs.

Under the “QC Muslim Community Drug Clearing Project,” the police and the local government would focus on areas with a high Muslim population, with the aim of declaring them “drug-cleared” or free from drug users or pushers.

An agreement was signed on Wednesday among officials of the QCPD, the city government, barangay and Muslim communities to formally launch the project. Representatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of the Interior and Local Government were also present.

Under the program, the Muslim communities would be regarded as a “cluster” with its own organized neighborhood watch that would coordinate with and provide information to village officials and the police.

The pilot areas are Sitio San Roque in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa; White Mosque Area in Barangay Payatas A; Lakan Abdullah Mosque Area in Barangay Holy Spirit; and Christian-Muslim Neighborhood Homeowners Association and Interior Kabuhayan Street Muslim Homeowners Association, both in Novaliches.

Also included are North Fairview Muslim Community in Barangay North Fairview, and Salaam Compound Muslim Community in Culiat.

Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, QCPD director, said the police and the local government decided to focus the campaign on Muslim communities because they form a “solid group.”

He cited earlier efforts done in Salaam Compound. “It used to be very notorious and impenetrable. But because of their concern, the community worked together with the barangay and the police, and it was effective,” he said.

Since the Duterte administration launched its war on drugs in July last year, the QCPD has arrested about 200 suspects in the Salaam Compound in Culiat, with one operation rounding up as many as 80 people.