Pangasinan mayor gives drug pushers 48 hours to leave town

STO. TOMAS, Pangasinan — Drug pushers and users here have only 48 hours, starting tomorrow, to leave town.

This as Mayor Antonio "Bebot" Villar Jr. declared war on drug dependents and gave them two days to vacate the place or face bitter consequences.

Villar told The STAR that this is part of his sustained campaign of ridding Sto. Tomas of illegal drugs. Sto. Tomas is a consistent awardee in Pangasinan in the anti-illegal drugs campaign, besting 44 other towns and four cities in the province.

A public address system was installed in 10 barangays here to relay the Mayor’s message to the people. Incidentally, this town is only a few kilometers away from Rosales town which, according to police reports, is becoming one of the centers of illegal drug trade in the province.

Villar, known in the province for his no-nonsense drive against illegal drugs, said he is not bothered by the death threats he has been getting. He said he has received mail with black ribbons, a box containing a barong tagalog and various phone calls.

Villar has also jailed suspected pushers including some of his own relatives who were found to be involved in the illegal drugs trade.

"If they don’t change their ways, they know what to expect," the mayor said without elaborating.

"Dapat lang na ipakita ko sa mga tao na totoo ang sinasabi ko. (It’s only proper that I must show to the people that I mean what I say)," Villar said.

Around town, the mayor has placed several signs which read: Walang kamag-anak, walang kapatid, walang kaibigan kung droga ang pag-uusapan. (No relatives, brothers, sisters or friends as far as illegal drugs are concerned).