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BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) investigation on the barangay captains of Monica Blumentritt, Bakhaw and Desamparados should answer the question why shabu continue to proliferate in these villages despite constant police antidrug operations, according to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
According to Senior Superintendent Remus Zacharias Canieso, city police director, the probe would be helpful to the police.
His men had carried out a lot of buy-bust operations in the three villages but the sale of shabu persisted, Canieso said.
Facing investigation are barangay captains Keith Espinosa (Monica Blumentritt, City Proper), Remia Prevendido Gregori (Bakhaw, Mandurriao) and Noemi Jablo (Desamparados, Jaro).
The SP’s Committee on Police, Fire, Penology, Public Safety, Order and Security, Dangerous Drugs and Rehabilitation chaired by Councilor Jeffrey Ganzon set the probe to start on Oct. 17.
“This is helpful. Malantaw ta kun nga-a nagdata ang illegal drugs sa ila barangay,” said Canieso who was invited to attend.
He expressed confidence that something good would come out from the probe.
“It’s a good venue to discuss the illegal drug problem and find concrete solutions. This is not only a police concern. The people should be involved,” said Canieso.
But not waiting for the SP probe to start, Canieso urged the barangay officials of Bakhaw to be “more aggressive” in the antidrug drive.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) classified Barangay Bakhaw as a “major area of concern” in the campaign against illegal drugs.
Barangay Bakhaw is where PDEA-identified drug lord Richard Prevendido resides. The suspect, however, could not be located anymore. He is a brother of Barangay Captain Gregori.
Canieso, meanwhile, increased the police’s visibility in Barangay Desamparados. A brother of Barangay Captain Jablo was shot there on Saturday by motorcycle-riding gunmen. Police believed it was drug-related.
“We want to put four standby police officers in Barangay Desamparados,” said Chief Inspector Ruel Firmo, Jaro police chief, but they do not have the logistics.
“Kulang kami. For the meantime, mobile patrol lang anay for police visibility.” said Firmo.
Other “major areas of concern” aside from barangays Bakhaw, Desamparados and Monica Blumentritt, according to PDEA, are the following villages: Tanza Esperanza, City Proper and South San Jose and Boulevard in Molo district.
Aside from Canieso, also invited to the SP investigation were:
* Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency regional director Gil Pabilona
* City Department of Interior and Local Government officer Ferdinand Panes
* Association of Barangay Captains president Reyland Hervias; and
* all city councilors.
The investigation will be at SP session hall, sixth floor of Iloilo City Hall./PN
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