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BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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Tuesday, June 13, 2017
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ILOILO City – Is the cash-strapped New People’s Army (NPA) coddling suspected drug lord Richard Prevendido for a fee?
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 6 received information that aside from corrupt policemen and local government officials, the fugitive is also enjoying the protection of rebels, according to Deputy Regional Director Levi Ortiz.
“Text messages sent to us anonymously claimed Prevendido was giving his protectors large sums of money,” said Ortiz.
The PDEA official, however, said the information given them needed validation. He did not discount the possibility that the text message was a diversionary tactic of the suspected drug lord himself.
PDEA-6’s linking Prevendido to the NPA came as a surprise. At the start of the Duterte administration’s drug war in July last year, the rebels in Panay Island announced they were joining the campaign.
The Coronacion Chiva “Waling-waling” Command of NPA-Panay said it was developing the capacity in police work, running after drug lords that could extend to the cities especially after President Rodrigo Duterte himself called on the rebels to run after drug lords.
It singled out two drug groups that PDEA itself identified as operating in Iloilo – the Prevendido and Odicta groups.
Despite the combined P1-million cash reward that the city and provincial governments of Iloilo promised to award whoever could give information leading to Prevendido’s arrest, the suspect remained at large.
According to Ortiz, PDEA ran a background check on Prevendido and found him to have links with rebels.
“Hindi malayo na protektahan si Prevendido ng NPA kasi he has the money na ibayad para sa kaligtasan n’ya at hindi mahuli. Sa panahon ngayon the rebels need money and only Prevendido can provide for their needs,” said Ortiz.
In an emailed statement July last year, the Coronacion Chiva “Waling-waling” Command agreed with President Duterte that addictive drugs had “disastrous impact on individuals, families and society itself.”
They have, however, a different perspective on the problem: “We view the spread of addictive drugs as a part of ruling class decadence and escapism, encouraged because it diverts the people, especially the youth, from questioning their current impoverished lives and uncertain future.”
The rebels then issued a warning: “Renewed efforts by drug lords to extend or transfer their operation in the countrysides are under watch and will be dealt with accordingly. We warn these people to stop their drug trafficking in NPA areas of the countryside or else they would be hunted down.”
The penetration of the Prevendido drug syndicate in San Joaquin, Iloilo and Dumarao, Capiz was under surveillance by the NPA, it added.
“Also, the Odicta group’s drug production facilities in areas of operation by the NPA have been monitored,” said the NPA
The rebels also clarified it did not have “kangaroo courts” arbitrarily handing down death sentences to suspect drug traffickers.
“The description fits more the vigilante campaign against suspect drug dealers launched by the PNP (Philippine National Police) with its questionable results. Many comrades and leaders and followers of people’s organization had been victims of the state death squads. We abhor carelessly taking a life,” the NPA stressed./PN
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