ILOILO City – Seventy-six barangay officials in Western Visayas are involved in illegal drugs, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
These include 20 village chiefs and 56 barangay kagawads, said Police Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, PRO-6 acting director.
“Ang 76 na ito ay dati nag-surrender at nahuli (during the administration of then President Rodrigo Duterte). So patuloy pa rin ang ating pag-monitor sa kanilang activity. We are conducting counter intelligence monitoring,” Villaflor said.
The PRO-6 chief declined to disclose which province, city or barangay these village officials belonged but he said some were protectors while others were actively trafficking illegal drugs.
“We are sternly warning these barangay official. Stay away from drugs and serve as models to their constituents. End it today because you can never escape the heavy hands of law,” said Villaflor.
He also urged Western Visayans to continue being vigilant.
“Continue to do your part in our fight against illegal drugs. Pagtulungan nating matapos ang problema sa droga para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak,” Villaflor added.
On Thursday, May 25, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Benjamin Acorda Jr., said around 430 barangay officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs are under monitoring ahead of the Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Acorda added these barangay officials were included in the PNP’s list of high-value individuals and street-level Individuals in the war against drugs, and most of them were from Western Visayas.
“They are subject to intelligence operations. We are hoping that this will be reduced in the coming days. Hopefully, those involved would eventually stop. If not, they will be subject to police operations,” Acorda said.
For its part, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 6 (PDEA-6), admitted there are barangay officials who are involved in illegal drugs.
PDEA-6 spokesperson Bomrad Abonado said they received reports from the community, but they are evaluating and verifying the information through the help of the PNP and other concerned agencies.
“”May ara kita nabaton nga mga information kag gina-isa-isa naton verify kag may series of investigation para indi kita magsala sang aton report,” Abonado told Panay News./PN
