ILOILO – The Philippine National Police (PNP) should investigate barangay officials with alleged involvement in illegal drugs and prosecute then if warranted, according to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
The PNP reported that Western Visayas had the highest number of drug-linked barangay officials in the country – 20 village chiefs and 56 barangay kagawads, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
“Ti, dapat kasohan naton sila. Let us investigate and file the cases. That’s the only thing that we can do,” said Defensor.
The governor said barangay officials should be the least likely to get involved in illegal activities at the barangay level.
“Dapat sila ang ulihi nga mga tawo nga ma-involve at the barangay level sa amo na nga problema,” he said.
In the province, four village chiefs and 11 barangay kagawads had involvement in illegal drugs, PRO-6 data showed.
The village chiefs were from the towns of Cabatuan (two), and one each from New Lucena and Ajuy.
The 11 barangay kagawads were from Batad (two), Barotac Viejo (one), Banate (one, arrested), Cabatuan (one), Oton (two, of whom one was arrested), Sara (one), Miag-ao (one), Calinog (one), and Tigbauan (one).
Police Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, PRO-6 acting director, earlier clarified that the 76 barangay officials either surrendered or were arrested during the administration of then President Rodrigo Duterte.
“(But) patuloy pa rin ang ating pag-monitor sa kanilang activity. We are conducting counterintelligence monitoring,” Villaflor said.
Drug test for barangay, SK bets
Defensor also said he supports the proposed drug testing on aspiring candidates for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections this Oct. 30.
“That is good; why not, maayo gid,” he said.
For Defensor, drug testing should be required not only for barangay and SK candidates but for all aspiring candidates, both for local and national elections./PN
