ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) and the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) have intensified their monitoring of several newly-elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials who have ties to illegal drugs.
ICPO director Colonel Joeresty Coronica refused to mention names of the officials and their barangays, but he earlier confirmed there were indeed some winners in the Oct. 30 barangay and SK elections linked to illegal drugs.
On the part of the IPPO, its director, Police Colonel Ronaldo Palomo, said two barangay kagawads are currently under their watch.
“Actually we have two village councilmen nga gina-validate naton if the reports we received were true,” Palomo said.
To recall, a kagawad of Barangay Matag-ub, Janiuay, Iloilo was arrested on Nov. 15 for possessing 50 grams of suspected shabu worth P340,000.
He admitted to the police that he was using and selling illegal drugs, Palomo said.
On Nov. 17, another barangay kagawad identified as Michael Montinola, 41, of Barangay Ayong, Cabatuan town was arrested for illegal drugs.
Officers of the Cabatuan Municipal Police Station confiscated a buy-bust item worth P3,500 and eight more sachets of suspected shabu valued at around P68,000.
Both kagawads were detained, facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Earlier, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has called for the strict monitoring and subsequent prosecution of barangay officials found involved in illegal drug activities.
The governor’s call to action was directed towards the IPPO to intensify their investigations into the potential involvement of barangay officials in the drug trade.
Defensor stressed the importance of thorough investigations, leading to the prosecution of any barangay officials found complicit in drug-related offenses./PN
