16 Manila officials, cops linked to drugs; Erap orders arrest

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada (AP)

Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has ordered the city’s police chief to speed up the operations against 16 local government officials and policemen suspected to be involved in illegal drugs.

Estrada did not name the 16 individuals, but called them “high-value targets” in the Manila Police District’s drug list.

“Government officials who are involved in drugs do not deserve any mercy. They’re even worse than the ordinary street pushers because they took an oath to uphold the law and serve the people,” Estrada said in a statement.

Estrada vowed support to MPD director Senior Supt. Joel Coronel in going after the targets, whom the latter identified as “public servants” from the city hall, barangay, and national government offices based in Manila, and from the police force.

“They’re both elected and appointed (officials). Some are drug users, coddlers, traffickers, or protectors, including from the PNP,” Coronel said.

“We have been monitoring them. Once we are done with the validation and it proved positive, we will conduct an operation—entrapment, arrest or neutralization,” he added.

Coronel said other arrested drug suspects and those who surrendered provided information that led to the identification of the 16 individuals tagged in drugs./rga

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