‘Names of uncooperative village execs to be sent to Duterte, DILG’

Names of village officials who refuse to cooperate with police’s anti-drug drive will be given to President Rodrigo Duterte and the Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” De la Rosa said on Wednesday.

This after the police chief received reports that some barangay chiefs refuse to assist the police in conducting “Oplan Tokhang” where cops police visits homes of individuals in the drug watchlist and convince them to stop selling or using illegal substances.

“May mga report na nakarating sa atin na may mga barangay captains na hindi cooperative sa ating Oplan Tokhang so I will submit the report to the DILG and to the President of course para malaman nila ang status ng mga barangay na may captains na ayaw mag-cooperate sa ating anti drug campaign,” De la Rosa told reporters at Camp Crame.

(I have been getting reports that there are barangay captains who refuse to cooperate in our Oplan Tokhang, so I will submit the report to the DILG and to the President, of course, so that they would know the status in the barangays whose captains refuse to cooperate in our anti-drug campaign.)

Asked what could be the reason why they are uncooperative, De la Rosa explained that some village executives accept bribe money from those running drug businesses in their areas.

“Baka meron silang pino-protektahan, tumataangap sila sa illegal drug business sa kanilang area o talagang takot lang sila dahil malapit na yung barangay elections, ayaw nilang mabawasan ng boto. May mga kanya-kanyang circumstances ‘yan eh,” he said.

(Perhaps they are protecting someone, they tolerate illegal drug trade in their area or they are simply afraid that when the barangay elections come, their votes would lessen. They have different circumstances.)

In Makati City, Mayor Abby Binay reiterated her call to the officials and residents of the exclusive villages of Magallanes, Dasmariñas, Forbes, San Lorenzo, Urdaneta and Bel-air to cooperate with the police.

READ: For gated village, cops modify antidrug drive

The chief of the Makati police Senior Supt. Rommil Mitra said there were still no “surrenderees” from the said villages after saying there were no drug users or pushers in their area.

But De la Rosa acknowledged some captains of posh villages for being “very cooperative” in the government’s anti-drug campaign.

“Marami ding mga high-end barangay na very cooperative ‘yung mga captains. Meron din namang mga low-end barangays na malakas mag-kuwestiyon,” he added.

(There are also many high-end barangays whose captains are very cooperative. And there are low-end barangays who question [the campaign].)

Asked about some homeowners association asserting their right to privacy, De la Rosa said: “Kung concerned sila sa rights nila, concerned din kami sa aming trabaho.”

“Labanan na ‘yan sa rason kung bakit ayaw but we will find ways,” he said.

(If they are concerned about their rights, we are also concerned about our job.

It will be a battle of reasons [for refusing to cooperate], but we will find ways.) CDG

READ: Ayala Alabang to let antidrug campaign in