An incumbent barangay councilor named as a “drug protector” on the watch list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) had topped the race for the councilor position in Barangay Bagong Lipunan, Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Noemi Agcaoili, 53, who ran for her third and last term as barangay councilor, won as the number one councilor after gathering 871 votes from her supporters.
The one who previously placed first in the 2013 councilor race is now the Barangay Bagong Lipunan chairwoman — Eleucita Feliciano, 72.
Margo Dantes, cousin of Kapuso actor and youth leader Dingdong Dantes, had won as Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson in the barangay.
Barangay Bagong Lipunan has a population of 15,000 and an estimated 7,000 registered voters.
“Shocked”
Meanwhile, Agcaoili denied that she was a drug protector, drug pusher, or user, adding that she was shocked to learn that she was on the PDEA watch list.
She earlier wrote to the Quezon City Police District to explain herself. She also underwent voluntary drug testing last May 8, along with 186 other barangay and Sangguniang Kabataang candidates from the nine barangays under the Cubao police station.
“I learned that I was on the PDEA list from my neighbors and from the media. I was really shocked,” said Agcaoili, a member of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC).
As a BADAC member, Agcaoili helped in facilitating the surrender of drug suspects, addicts and pushers.
She admitted having a 27-year-old nephew who is in jail for drug use. “If I were a protector, why is he in jail?” she asked, adding “I am here to clear my name.”
“Hindi na po ako makikipagplastikan, my relative is into drugs. But as a family, you might always tell them you don’t want the practice but they have their own life. Kahit anong saway mo, may kanya-kanyang buhay yan,” she said.
Agcaoili used to be a supervisor in a small company and is now an owner of a small sari-sari store. She has two children, a criminology graduate and a tourism student.
She is considering filing a countercharge against the PDEA for the false claim. “But I will finish the elections first,” she said. /vvp