Narco-Politics: Pushers supporting barangay officials?

CEBU, Philippines - Police are now validating an intelligence report that two bigtime drug pushers are supporting barangay officials running in the coming barangay election in Cebu City.

This developed as police are closely monitoring at least two towns in Cebu province due to reported links of some political aspirants to illegal activities, the Cebu Provincial Police Office said yesterday.

Regional Intelligence Division-7 chief Pablo Labra II disclosed that these barangay officials are situated in Cebu City's South District.

Labra, however, withheld specific information.

He said they received the report only recently when candidates started preparing for the October 28 barangay elections.

The RID-7 chief said they are working to arrest these bigtime drug pushers, whom he described as very clever.

In line with this, Police Regional Office-7 director Danilo Constantino instructed all provincial and city directors in Central Visayas to be more aggressive in their efforts against illegal drugs.

"Go after high value targets or big drug personalities... We mean business when it comes to illegal drugs," Constantino said.

He said police officers who fail to testify in court, which eventually causes the dismissal of a case, shall face a maximum penalty of dismissal from the service.

Barangays monitored

 Gillamac, however, refused to name the two barangays, which are located in northern Cebu.

"All of the barangays are being monitored but so far we only have two but these politicians are yet to file their COC (Certificate of Candidacy)," said CPPO director Sr. Supt. Noel Gillamac.

These political aspirants are reportedly supported by people who are involved in illegal activities like gambling, drugs and robberies.

"We received information that some people involved in illegal activities are planning to run but whether they run or not, we will continue our operation against them," Gillamac said.

In August, Lamintak Norte, Medellin barangay captain Rene Olivar escaped but six of his cohorts were arrested in an operation against illegal gambling.

Operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch arrested the suspects tallying jai-alai numbers at the house of Olivar, an alleged financier of the illegal numbers game.

But during the raid, Olivar eluded arrest.

Arrested were Rogelio Mangubat, 40; Teodoro Yurag, 40; Alfredo Yurag, 27; Monalisa Lanurias, 32; Michael Yuson, 47; and Rosabella Gulfan, 36, the alleged ushers.

Police confiscated two boxes of blank tally sheets, voluminous blank stabs, tally sheets with different number combinations, ball pens, calculators, and P2,300 cash.

Gillamac said the public should not elect people with derogatory records.

"It's up to the voters who to choose but I would like to inform them to always vote intelligently," he said.

Drug operations

Meanwhile, police operations against illegal drugs in Central Visayas increased from January to September this year compared to the same period last year.

Statistic showed that there were 1,361 operations this year compared to 982 last year.

The number of arrested persons also increased from 926 to 1,085. Cases filed in court reached 1,222 compared to last year's 1,059.

Of the 3,003 barangays in Central Visayas, 809 are affected with illegal drugs.

Of the 809 barangays, 159 are in Cebu Province, 74 in Cebu City, 20 in Lapu-Lapu City and 27 in Mandaue City.

Labra said Central Visayas only has drug retailers or drug pushers who could dispose of at least seven kilos of shabu a week.

"There is no manufacturer in the region, only retailers whom we are now monitoring," he said. — /LPM (FREEMAN)