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[av_heading heading=’26 Bacolod brgy execs linked to drugs ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
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BACOLOD City – Five barangay captains and 21 councilmen were linked to illegal drugs.
“Their names were already with the (Liga ng mga Barangay) National Executive Board,” city Liga president Noli Villarosa said.
Villarosa, also the Negros Island Region’s Liga president, declined to name the officials but said the barangay captains were classified as “drug protectors” while the councilmen, users or pushers.
Soon their names will be given to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) “for investigation and evaluation,” said Villarosa.
The DILG may recommend that the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) investigate further, he said.
Villarosa also announced the city Liga will conduct a drug test but did not say when.
Barangay officials who test positive for drug use will be removed from their posts, he said, citing a DILG order.
In a related development, Mayor Evelio Leonardia reconstituted the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC).
“What should give us a new sense of excitement and enthusiasm is the fact that we have a President (Rodrigo Duterte) who is very [opposed to illegal drugs],” he told a meeting at city hall on Wednesday.
Leonardia said previous city administrations — including his — failed to stop the drug menace but he believes “we have a better chance this time.”
He is leading the reconstituted CADAC as chairman. Superintendent Flynn Dongbo, Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, is the vice chairman.
Members include Councilor Ricardo Tan, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on police matters, peace and order, and illegal drugs; Councilor Em Ang, chairwoman of the committee on social services and development; Carmelo Orbista, DILG-Bacolod acting director; Cynthia Demavivas, city schools division superintendent; Ernie Gallespin of the Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports, Cultural and Educational Association;
Acting City Prosecutor Dennis Jarder; City Health Officer Dr. Carmela Gensoli; Sally Abelarde of the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD); Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency regional director Julius Navales; Executive Assistant II Celestino Guara Jr.; Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s Chief Superintendent Francisco Esquera;
Chief Inspector Edison Garcia, chief of the BCPO Drug Enforcement Unit; Public Information Officer Danny Dangcalan; Philippine Information Agency’s Lorenzo Lambatin; Dr. Ester Regina Servando of the Bacolod City Mental Health Care Center;
NBI-Bacolod head Atty. Renato Garbo III; Philippine Mental Health Association’s Rey Jereos; Sara Vial of VIRLANE; Casimiro Seva of the Support Group of Recovering Community; Father Ernie Larida of the Diocese of Bacolod’s Social Action Center; Head Minister Bro. Marvin Bergonia; Muslim Head Minister Imam Masaranga Magondacan; Commission on Human Rights-Bacolod acting head Atty. Romeo Baldevarona; and Elizabeth Caumban and Marriane Cleofe Joquino of the DSSD (secretariat)./PN
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