At least 30 local executives allegedly linked to the illegal drug trade heeded President Duterte’s call to surrender within 24 hours to the police.
The Philippine National Police on Monday set up a receiving area for the local officials where they will be subjected to questioning and custodial investigation with Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) personnel.
PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” De la Rosa personally met with the officials inside the PNP Multipurpose Center at Camp Crame.
Mayor Eulogio de Guzman III of Bauang, La Union turned emotional when he expressed disappointment over Duterte’s public naming of “narcopoliticians” without sufficient evidence.
“I truly appreciate our President, sa laban niya sa droga. Laban po natin ito, hindi lang siya. Pero siguro po may nag-feed ng ibang mensahe sa kanya,” he said.
(I truly appreciate our President in his fight against drugs. This is our fight, not just his. But maybe someone fed him a different message.)
“Yung dami ng panahon na inipon namin para pangalagaan pangalan namin, nawala nang saglit lang. ‘Yung future ng aming mga anak na aming pinapangalagaan, nawala,” De Guzman said, his voice breaking.
(All the time that we spent to take care of our name disappeared just like that. The future of our children which we treasure is gone.)
Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, a known ally of former President Aquino and Duterte’s presidential rival Mar Roxas, raised concern over his and other local officials’ security.
Speaking to De la Rosa, Mabilog said they might become vulnerable to attacks now that they have been stripped of the privilege to have security escorts.
“Katatapos lang ng local elections. Syempre may mga kalaban kami. Baka maging biktima kami,” he said.
(The local elections just ended. Of course we have enemies. We might become victims.)
Meanwhile, Mayor Ohto Mantawal of Datu Montawal, Maguindanao promised to his firing buddy De la Rosa, whom Mantawal described as his “best friend,” that he would intensify the anti-drug campaign in his muncipality.
If there would be no improvement after his surrender, Mantawal told De la Rosa he would order the killing of village officials in his area.
“Papaganon ko sila sir. Kilala mo ako. Proud ako na ang best friend ko, chief PNP (I will do that to them. You know me. I’m proud that my best friend is the chief of PNP),” he said.JE
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