Probe of Iloilo cops in drugs sought

The head of two Senate committees looking into the attempted break-in at a radio station in Iloilo City by a suspected drug lord is seeking an investigation of reports that members of the city police are involved in the illegal drug trade.

Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the committees on public order and dangerous drugs and public information and media, said she would ask the Philippine National Police  Internal Affairs Service to investigate the reports.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who attended the hearing held here by the committees, told Poe that the city government is actively supporting the war on drugs of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Philippine National Police.

According to Mabilog, the city has become the fourth least drug-affected city in the country as a result of his administration’s efforts to curb drug use and trading.

In a statement, Mabilog said the city’s efforts are paying off.

“We credit this to the effective antidrug campaign that led to much higher awareness of the people on the problems brought about by illegal drugs,” said the mayor in the statement.

“We are committed in ensuring the metropolis becomes free from illegal drugs and personalities engaged in the trade,” he said.

As early as 2010, Mabilog said he created the Iloilo City Task Force on Anti-Drug Abuse and Education, which conducted symposiums on dangerous drugs.

“We don’t want a single Ilonggo life to be wasted on illegal drugs,” he said.

During the hearing, Poe said she would seek a review of the Anti-Wiretapping Law to relax rules against wiretapping on cases involving drug suspects. She said this could be done through amendments to the law.

The senator brought the hearing to this city in the wake of the attempted break-in at radio station dyOK on Nov. 19 by an alleged drug lord and his men who have been at the receiving end of pointed criticisms by the radio station against drug trade in the city.

In his statement, Mabilog quoted Paul Ledesma, regional director of PDEA, as saying that the war on drugs has been successful in the city.

In a report quoted by Mabilog, Ledesma attributed the success of the war on drugs to the intensive antidrug awareness campaign conducted by the Iloilo City Anti-Drug Abuse Council  Task Force on Anti-Drug Abuse and Education in public schools and villages.

“Awareness campaign against illegal drugs has been very effective. This has brought down the number of illegal drug cases, especially in schools,” said Ledesma, as quoted by Mabilog.

“Iloilo City has become the benchmark all over the Philippines. We can definitely say that we are winning the war. We cannot ask for anything more because the programs are already in place,” said Ledesma.

During the hearing, top officials of the PNP, led by Director General Danilo Constantino, deputy chief for operations, said charges have been filed against those who tried to break into the radio station, led by alleged drug lord Melvin Odicta Sr., his son and namesake Melvin Jr., Iloilo village councilman Jesus Espinosa Jr. and several unidentified persons.

The three were identified through security camera footage that captured the attempted break-in.

Arturo Cacdac Jr., PDEA director general, said the war on drugs is being slowed down by provisions in the Anti-Wiretapping Law that prohibits electronic surveillance of drug suspects.

Also at the hearing were Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor and Vice Gov. Raul Tupas.

Poe announced her plan to have city policemen investigated after John Paul Tia, dyOK station manager, said at the hearing that officials of the radio station reported the attempted break-in to the regional police because they did not trust the city police.

Media groups, during the hearing, said the attempted break-in was an attack on media and press freedom.

Poe said she would also seek clarification on the release of the elder Odicta from the National Penitentiary in 1995.

Odicta was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Iloilo Regional Trial Court for selling marijuana. The sentence was affirmed by the Supreme Court in 1991.

But Odicta was released in 1995 based on a petition for a writ of habeas corpus.

Odicta did not attend the hearing but Espinosa showed up and admitted going to the station with Odicta.

Asked by Poe why they went to the station, Espinosa said he did not know.

“I just went there with my ninong (godfather), referring to Odicta,” he said, prompting Poe to ask if he was with the other men for a “joy ride.”

On Wednesday, Odicta’s lawyer, Raymon Forton, filed a P15.3-million libel case against dyOK manager Tia and broadcaster Salvador Capulot for the station’s commentaries tagging him and his wife as “drug dealers” and their businesses as “fronts” for illegal drugs.

Also named respondent was Ruperto Nicdao Jr., president of the Manila Broadcasting Corp. With a report by Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Inquirer Visayas