Mayor REX Gatchalian and Valenzuela City Police Chief PSSUPT Ronaldo R Mendoza led today, November 9, the team of local police operatives in the surprise inspection of the city’s four-storey jail building.

The inspection dubbed as “Oplan Galugad” was a double-bladed operation. First was

to look into the current state of the facility following the influx of new detainees as a result of the city’s drive against illegal drugs in order to ascertain what other assistance the LGU could provide the local Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

Second was to test the new narcotics and explosives sniffing dogs that the city acquired for the Valenzuela City Police Station. Ten (10) sniffer dogs were utilized in the operation – 3 Belgian malinois, 2 Jack russel, 3 Beagles, and 1 Labrador narcotics sniffers, and 1 Belgian malinois explosives sniffer.

Valenzuela City is the first LGU in the country to maintain a pack of narcotics and explosives sniffer K9s to improve efficiency and accuracy of operations against illegal drugs. The pack will be deployed during anti-illegal drugs operations in the city, such as Oplan Tokhang.

PSSupt Rolando R. Mendoza supervised the inspection of the cells for both men and women-detainees. No illegal substances and contrabands were found during the operation.

Yesterday, the LGU and local PNP-led 90-day road to drug-free city challenge, the Valenzuelano Ayaw sa Droga (VAD) program, ended with 2,903 surrenderees. 200 of whom were already sent for locally-funded rehabilitation while 1,165 are up for community-based rehabilitation which are now being set up in every barangay in the city.

As the city continues to implement its fiery stance against illegal drugs, the second phase of VAD program starts implementation today, November 9, with more aggressive initiatives lined up.