Panglao (Bohol) mayor admits: Some policemen involved in illegal drugs, gambling

TAGBILARAN CITY , Philippines  — Mayor Benedicto Alcala of Panglao has admitted that illegal drugs and illegal gambling have infiltrated and settled in his town, with some police officers even serving as runners for the illegal numbers game called swertres.

Alcala declared that his campaign against illegal activities is now a lonesome crusade because several teachers, barangay captains and law enforcers-influential figures in the community-even place bets on the illegal swertres. He however did not name names on who are these people involved.

The mayor said his advocacy even earned him the ire of many residents who choose to patronize gambling instead.

He however remained steadfast in his fight against illegal activities so, in every speaking engagements, he always include his appeal to the public to cooperate in the fight by doing their share in eliminating illegal gambling and drugs that only dragged them to poverty.

In the consultations he conducted, barangay residents would generally declared their preference for the continuance of the illegal swertres.

He countered by daring them to take part in the fight by changing their attitude and stop betting on the swertres to discourage financiers from continuing with their illegal business.

Alcala was also dismayed over the proliferation of the illegal drugs trade in the barangays, although he cited the arrest of a drug personality at a checkpoint in the causeway area that was set up by a team from the Tagbilaran City Police.

The suspect, identified as Peter Andrew Pajo, 42, a resident of Basak-Pardo in Cebu City, was heading to Panglao island when caught at the checkpoint.

Inspector Adriano Bacus said Pajo was noticed trembling while handing over to the policemen his driver's license and registration papers of the motorcycle he was using at the time.

This prompted Bacus' team to frisk Pajo and, as a result, found allegedly from his possession several sachets containing suspected shabu, drug use paraphernalia, P10,000 cash, two P1,000-bill marked "fake," two cellphones, two pouches, and a wallet.

Pajo is now facing charges at the city prosecutor's office for violation of Article II, Sections 11 and 12 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.