CEBU - How did Bogo City achieve its drug-free status with no casualties in police operations?

"It hasn't been easy," said Bogo City Police chief Supt. Byron Allatog, who is tasked to achieve and maintain the city's drug-free reputation.

"Bogo sits in the crossroads of other towns and cities that have their share of drug problems. Keeping drug pushers off Bogo is a continuing effort," he added.

Allatog, who has only served as the city's police chief for 8 months, said authorities in the area constantly receive information that drug pushers want to penetrate the city.

His first task was to coordinate with all village officials and remind them of their stake in the anti-illegal drug campaign.

Allatog warned them that he would report to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) all those who allow the illegal drug trade to flourish.

PDEA Region 7 Director Yogi Ruiz said that Bogo City met all the requirements to be declared drug-free, including the neutralization of all drug pushers and an effective rehabilitation program for drug users.

"Yes. They are drug-cleared but we continue monitoring them," he said.

More than 1,000 surrenderers from Bogo City have undergone a community-based drug rehabilitation program wherein their progress is tracked to ensure that they would no longer use illegal drugs.

Ten known drug pushers in the city have also been neutralized, the police said, and none of them died in anti-drug operations.

This amid a spate of deaths in other parts of the country where police pursue the administration's fierce anti-drug campaign. The government has said those killed in drug operations were suspects who fired first as pursuing police, adding that it does not sanction executions.

Allatog said that as a devout Catholic and an Igorot, his faith and culture do not condone killings.

"Kapag may napatay kami, kailangan akong umuwi sa amin kasi kakatay kami ng apat na baboy. Pagdadasalan pa nila doon," he shared.

Allatog, however, warned that his men may still use force once their lives are threatened. This has not happened so far, as none of the drug pushers had resisted arrest.

The Bogo Police have also tapped the help of a group of 'habal-habal' drivers for intelligence gathering.

With all eyes on Bogo, Allatog hopes such measures could help preserve the city's untarnished drug-free record.

Dr. Rene Bullecer, Human Life International country director, meanwhile expressed apprehension that Bogo's drug-free status may just drive away drug pushers to other areas.

Last month, President Rodrigo Duterte called Cebu a drug "hot spot," citing the involvement of local officials and police in the illicit trade.

"Tungod sa threats or kahadlok for their safety, these pushers or local drug lords namalhin sa kasigpit nga mga lokalidad," he said.

(Due to threats or fear for their safety, these drug pushers or local drug lords may just transfer to neighboring towns.)

Anakbayan Cebu Coordinator Niño Olayvar believes it is possible to achieve a zero casualty count in the drug war if basic human rights principles and rules of engagement are strictly followed.

"It is possible na ma-achieve ang short-term goal to cut and apprehend the drug operations in a locality without death," he said.

Olayvar, however, admitted that he has reservations.

"Ang problema is that under the drug war campaign, the police are given a de facto immunity kung (allegedly) maka-commit ng human rights violations tulad ni Espenido," he added, in reference to Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, who has served as police chief in towns were mayors have died in police operations.