There are policemen also under surveillance by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Negros Occidental on suspicion of being illegal drug users, PDEA Provincial chief, Intelligence Officer 3 Cerilo Baluma said yesterday.

Baluma said the policemen, whose names he did not disclose, have the ranks of Police Officers 1, 2 and 3 and are assigned at the Bacolod City Police Office and at the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.

He said the arrest of Police Officer 1 Mark Pestolante on Wednesday confirmed the information they received from concerned citizens regarding policemen who are illegal drug users.

Senator Franklin Drilon said yesterday he is optimistic that the Senate will pass his counterpart bill seeking the creation of a second congressional district for Bacolod City.

Drilon told the DAILY STAR he has not heard of any objections to Senate Bill No. 2568, and does not see any legal obstacles to it.

The House of Representatives on December 8 approved on third and final reading its version of the bill filed by Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez for the creation of a second Bacolod congressional district.

CAMP MACARIO PERALTA, Capiz – The Armed Forces of the Philippines may enhance its civil-military work, under its new six-year campaign plan, but will not lessen military operations against armed groups, Maj. Gen. Vicente Porto said yesterday.

Under the new internal peace and security plan dubbed “Oplan Bayanihan”, Porto said yesterday, government agencies, and local government units, have been ordered by President Benigno Aquino III to lead the development of areas cleared by the military of armed insurgents.