URDANETA CITY– Members of the city police here underwent a surprise drug test Wednesday and Thursday even as combined elements of drug enforcement agencies arrested some 15 suspected drug personalities in simultaneous raids in this city and neighbor Binalonan town.

The unannounced drug test came in the wake of reports that some policemen were either pushers or protectors or users themselves.

As is true in other metropolis, this commercially-growing city has had its share of problem on illegal drugs.

Combined elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, PNP special operations group, regional mobile group, and the Dagupan SWAT team, swooped down last Thursday on suspected drug dens in the city, at the cattle market site in the poblacion area, and in barangays Camantiles and Nancayasan of this city.

Chief Inspector Christopher Abrahano, PDEA provincial chief, said the arrested drug personalities have long been under surveillance and included in drug watch list.

In barangay Linmansangan in Binalonan, one Rodolfo Catabay was nabbed for possession of some 250 grams of dried marijuana leaves.

Abrahano clarified that the crackdown on illegal drugs was not intended for Muslims. He pointed out that some of those arrested were Christians.

Supt. Harris Fama , PNP information officer, said that the raiding team was armed with nine search warrants - seven for suspected places in Urdaneta and two in Binalonan. Some 120 law enforcers were divided into teams to conduct the Malacanang-initiated simultaneous raids.

The subject areas included apartments, shanties, buildings and videoke bars, he said.

Apparently, a pot session in a videoke bar near the cattle market here was ongoing when the raid was conducted as evidenced by drug paraphernalia and suspected shabu found in the area. The owner was arrested while the guests relations officers were subjected to a drug test.

The campaign against illegal drugs was intensified in the wake of reports that the country continues to be a transshipment point for banned drugs. Several suspected shabu laboratories in Metro Manila were also raided netting millions of pesos worth of shabu and other paraphernalia. (DOS)