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[av_heading heading=’Nava presses probe vs 3 village chiefs ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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ILOILO City – Councilor Plaridel Nava wants the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to investigate three barangay captains for possible administrative liabilities – gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct – in relation to the proliferation of illegal drugs in their turfs.
The three barangay captains are Keith Espinosa of Barangay Monica-Blumentritt, City Proper; Remia Previndido Gregori of Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao district; and Noemi Jablo of Barangay Desamparados, Jaro district.
“This is to determine whether they have been remiss in their duties and responsibilities,” Nava told Panay News.
Espinosa is the wife of Jesus “Jing-jing” Espinosa Jr., ranked No. 2 in the Iloilo City Police Office – Police Station 1’s list of suspected drug personalities in the City Proper. Their house was raided on Oct. 2. Policemen recovered seven plastic sachets of shabu.
Gregori, on the other hand, is a sister of suspected big-time personality Richard Prevendido. Her barangay has been classified by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as “seriously affected” by illegal drugs.
Several other family members of Gregori were linked to illegal drugs. In July of this year, Bonie Prevendido Gregori, Ednie Prevendido Jimena and Norberto Prevendido surrendered to the Mandurriao police station. Bonie was listed No. 2 in the Mandurriao police’s target list of suspected drug personalities. Norberto was No. 3 while Jimena was No. 5.
Last week a nephew of Barangay Captain Prevendido, Jhon Rey Prevendido (son of Richard Prevendido), was arrested in a buy-bust operation.
Meanwhile, just this Oct. 8 a brother-in-law of Barangay Captain Jablo was killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen.
According to Chief Inspector Ruel Firmo, Jaro police chief, the killing could be drug-related.
Just last month, PDEA said some barangay officials were merely pretending to be supportive of the campaign against illegal drugs.
They cannot fool PDEA, said David Garcia, spokesperson of the agency in Western Visayas.
The city has 180 barangay captains. Garcia did not say how many are into illegal drugs either as pushers, users or coddlers.
“We are monitoring their movements,” he revealed.
Some, he added, are “indirectly” involved through their relatives.
“They’re not reproving their erring relatives and they don’t include them in their Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council list of drug personalities,” said Garcia.
PDEA also knew of barangay councilmen involved in illegal drugs, he revealed.
“We are finding ways to take them down,” said Garcia without elaborating./PN
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