The war against drugs in Bohol continues through the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) while the police and the National Bureau of Investigation remain on the sidelines in the anti-narcotics drive.

PDEA agents on Wednesday arrested four alleged drug personalities in Tagbilaran City including Michael Naquila, a 27-year-old resident of Abucay Sur, Calape, who is listed in the agency’s drug watchlist.

The operatives also arrested Tagbilaran residents Policarpio Jagonos, 50, and Jovanie Seloterio, 40, who was previously nabbed for possession of illegal drugs, and 41-year-old Ariel Abanto of Totolan, Dauis.

All suspects were arrested in the buy-bust operation conducted against Naquila along Gallares Street, Tagbilaran City.

Naquila allegedly sold shabu worth P1,000 to a PDEA poseur-buyer and was able to run from operatives after sensing that he transacted with a law enforcement agent.

In his escape attempt, the suspect led the PDEA agents and supporting policemen to Seloterio, Jagonos and Abanto who were allegedly engaging in a pot session.

The authorities then cornered Naquila and confiscated from him four packets of suspected shabu, one from Jagonos, one from Selotario and one from Abanto who also had in his possession drugs on an aluminum strip.

Drug charges against the four arrested men are set to be filed by the PDEA while the suspects are detained at the detention facility in Camp Dagohoy.

Last week, PDEA Bohol spokesperson Chona Egam said that the number of arrests made against drug suspects has significantly dropped after Pres. Duterte suspended the police’s Double Barrel Program.

Egam also admitted that the PDEA will not be able to surmount or equal the accomplishments of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the crackdown on illegal drug activities.

She said that PDEA Bohol has a limited number of personnel who could go after drug personalities.

However, the PDEA official noted that the agency is taking measures to boost its anti-drug drive and that the military and PNP are expected to extend aid by providing information and personnel. (Weli Maestrado with reports from Allen Doydora)