PDEA: MisOr warden told son to hide amid warrant for drugs

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has said that Misamis Oriental provincial jail warden Dominador Tagarda has told one of his sons to go into hiding after word leaked about an impending search or arrest warrant.

“We could have arrested Gregor a long time ago, but apparently he was told by his father to go into hiding in Gingoog,” said Wilkins Villanueva, PDEA Region 10 Director.

On Wednesday, Tagarda’s two sons, Bon Clinton and Gregor, were arrested after a search on their respective residences here yielded crystal meth or shabu, all amounting to 25 grams.

Villanueva said it is hard to imagine that Tagarda was not aware of the activities of his sons, as he even have one of them go into hiding.

Villanueva had asked Tagarda to quit as provincial jail warden on account of the arrest of his two sons saying he had lost moral ascendancy to remain in office.

Tagarda has denied knowledge of the illegal activities of his sons and refused to quit as jail warden, a post he held for 36 years. He is set to retire by year-end.

Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vicente Emano has vowed to investigate the incident once the PDEA shares information to the provincial government.

Meantime, Emano said he still have “faith and confidence in Mr. Tagarda,” describing his performance in the provincial jail as “exceptional.”

Emano also described Tagarda as “a responsible man.”/lzb