PDEA-7 director denies barangay chief’s accusation

CEBU, Philippines - The director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 has denied the allegation that his personnel got money during an operation in Cordova town last Friday.

PDEA-Central Visayas director Yogi Filemon Ruiz said that the allegation of Cogon, Cordova Barangay Captain Francisco Ando, Jr. that they got P10,000 from the house of his father is false accusation.

"Ingon ana gyod nang mga guilty. Allegation rana nga adunay nakawat nga 10k sa ilang balay," Ruiz said.

Last Friday, the brother of Francisco, Stephen, was arrested in a buy-bust operation and yielded 186 packs of suspected shabu weighing more or less 250 grams and worth P625,000.

Stephen is allegedly a major drug player in Cordova and can allegedly dispose of around half a kilo of shabu per week.

But after the operation, Francisco reported to Cordova Police Station that the wooden cabinet inside the house of his father was allegedly destroyed by the operatives. He alleged that they lost P10,000 cash, which was to be used as capital for their sea shell business.

Ruiz urged Francisco to file a case against PDEA-7.

 As far as they are concerned, he said they have sufficient evidence to prove that the house was being used as a drug den.

Ruiz said the drug business is also being tolerated by the barangay official.

 "We will file a case of dereliction of duties against the barangay captain for tolerating the illegal activity," Ruiz said. (FREEMAN)