Rama: Narcopolitics issue dates back to Tomas’ time

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama said insinuations that narcopolitics is prevalent in some Cebu City barangays is an insult to barangay officials.

The mayor challenged barangay officials to speak and dispute the “irresponsible” claim of his political rival Tomas Osmeña, the city’s former mayor and congressman.

Osmeña told reporters last Thursday that at least 20 percent of the city’s 80 barangays could be considered as hotspots in the coming election because of strong political rivalry and narcopolitics.

Drug trade, he said, is especially common in at lease seven barangays, namely Day-as, Ermita, Pasil, Duljo, Suba, Sawang and Inayawan.

“In issuing the statement, Osmeña may have forgotten that until 2010, he was mayor of the city,” Rama said.

Rama said that the narcopolitics was an issue in the 2010 election.

“What he is saying is an insult to the barangays,” Rama said.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Police Office (CPPO) would not confirm if the drug problem has infiltrated politics.

Chief Inspector Romeo Santander, chief of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB), said however that the drug problem in the barangays mentioned by Osmeña is serious, but added that they are not yet in the position to identify candidates who are involved in narcopolitics pending the filing of certificates of candidacy for the October 28 barangay elections.

“It’s an open book nga kining mga lugara affected with drug problem,” Santander told reporters yesterday. This was confirmed by the CPPO and Regional Intelligence Division (RID) – 7.

They may have received reports of political aspirants who are believed to be involved in illegal drug activities or being supported by people in the illegal drugs trade, Santander said, but these need evidence.