BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Negros Occidental has been monitoring village officials in the province, including those in Bacolod City, for alleged involvement in illegal drug activities.
“Agent Bamboo” of PDEA-Negros Occidental said their monitoring already resulted in the arrest of kagawad Abby Araneta of Barangay Alijis in this city earlier this month and another kagawad in Talisay City.
Bamboo said some village officials were mentioned in then president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug list alongside politicians and uniformed personnel.
The PDEA agent also noted that, in the adjudication process, some of the names listed were cleared, while PDEA’s intelligence units were doubling their efforts in validating the activities of the village officials.
Earlier this week, Bacolod City Police Office’s City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) head, Police Lieutenant Joven Mogato, said they were also validating information on some barangay officials in the city.
Mogato said all information were tagged as hearsay until validated, pointing out that some people were just trying to ruin names to further personal interests./PN
