AN ALLEGED big-time drug personality in Caloocan City—long considered untouchable because of his blood ties to former and current politicians—has surrendered to authorities and vowed to stay away from illegal drugs.
On Friday morning, Luis “Peting” Asistio III, 49, brother of Caloocan Vice Mayor Macario Asistio III, admitted his involvement in the illegal drug trade before Senior Supt. Johnson Almazan, the city’s new police chief.
Peting and the vice mayor are the children of former Caloocan Rep. Luis “Baby” Asistio and nephews of former Caloocan Mayor Macario “Boy” Asistio Jr.
With a lawyer and the vice mayor by his side, Peting signed an affidavit of undertaking in which he vowed to stop using and selling drugs. He also expressed willingness to subject himself to an investigation should the police find evidence of his continuous involvement in the drug trade.
In a dialogue, it was agreed that Peting would not be placed in police custody and he would voluntarily undergo a drug rehabilitation program.
“But he will still undergo questioning as to where the illegal drugs come from, who distributes these and the people behind the drug trade,” Almazan said.
According to authorities, Peting and two of his relatives—long considered by the police as untouchables despite their alleged decade-long involvement in the drug trade—went to the office of Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan at city hall on Tuesday.
They wanted to seek advice on what they should do, expressing fear for their lives following President Duterte’s declaration of an all-out war on drugs.
Malapitan reportedly told the three men to undergo drug rehabilitation and give themselves up.
Only Peting, however, surrendered to the police on Friday. In 2000, he was shot and wounded in a drug bust in front of his house in Caloocan City.
Seized from him were P400,000 worth of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and a firearm.
Reached for comment, Malapitan said that Caloocan, in line with the President’s vision, was serious in cleansing the city of illegal drugs.
“It’s a good thing that he surrendered. And hopefully, he will not return to his old ways. But that does not mean he is exempt from future arrests,” Malapitan told the Inquirer, referring to Peting.
A source who asked for anonymity said that it was his brother who convinced Peting to give himself up since the vice mayor also heads the city’s Barangay Antidrug Abuse Council which spearheads and facilitates the drive against illegal drugs.
A high-ranking official in the city said that the surrender of Peting would help boost their war against drugs as it would prove that no untouchables would be spared.
According to Supt. Ferdinand del Rosario, the city’s assistant police chief, several drug personalities in Caloocan have also expressed their intention to give themselves up.
So far, around 400 drug suspects from Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela have surrendered to authorities.