PDEA to publish names of brgy officials in drugs

TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines — Director General Aaron Aquino of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has announced in a newsconference in Tacloban City yesterday that the PDEA national office will publish the names of close to 300 barangay officials nationwide, some of whom are from Eastern Visayas (Region 8).

Aguino, who was in Candahug of Palo, Leyte for the inauguration of the P23-million PDEA-8 regional office building, clarified that 289 barangay chairpersons and councilpersons are on the lists of  President Rodrigo Duterte.

Proper authorities are still validating the lists, 274 officials of which on the lists were from PDEA and still being validated, Aquino told local reporters.

"We have to publish their names so that if they are cadidates now for the upcoming SK and barangay elections, hindi sila ibubuto. They are there to help the government campaign in the anti-illegal drugs pero wala eh, they are into illegal drugs by way of trading, using and protecting, instead. So what shall we do? The people should know these officials are not worthy to be voted anymore," Aquino said.

The top PDEA, in his speech, also said that of the 2,552 affected barangays of illegal drugs in the region, 1,618 were already cleared and 944 still to be cleared by regional PDEA agents within the timetable until 2022.

Region 8 topped the list of the most numbers of drug-affected barangays in the country, followed by the National Capital Region and Cebu province. Aquino admitted that clearing at least 200 barangays per month is actually 'impossible,'" he  added.

Before coming to Palo, Aquino also the guest of honor in Southern Leyte recently declared as drug cleared province among of the third provinces in the country declared by PDEA as such. It was further confirmed that Biliran province is the next province to be declared drug-free in the country.

PDEA-8 Regional Director Edgar Jubay, meanwhile in a separate statement, also announced the 10 drug personalities in Eastern Visayas region 8 linked in narco-politics.

"No mayors involve, no governors but a congressman and some barangay officials are on the list, of which the validation report was already submitted to the Office of the President. Now, it's up to the barangays to appreciate our reports and the next move to do against this congressman and nine barangay officials," Jubay said.

Meanwhile, the PDEA is on process of working with the top officials of the Dept. of Education for the inclusion of the anti-illegal drug campaign, as part of the elementary curriculum. (FREEMAN)