Quezon solon’s brother, nephew on drug list yield to clear names

Cerilo “Athel” Alcala (right) and son, Sajid (in white t-shirt), who are suspected of involvement in the illegal drug trade in Quezon province, surrender to the Lucena City police on Sunday. PHOTOS BY DELFIN T. MALLARI JR. / Inquirer Southern Luzon

LUCENA CITY–Two members of a political clan in Quezon province turned themselves in to the local police over allegations that they were big-time drug pushers.

Quezon Rep. Vicente Alcala took his younger brother, Cerilo “Athel” Alcala, and his nephew, Sajid, Cerilo’s son, to the Lucena City police station on Sunday so they can clear their names.

During a press conference that followed the Alcalas’ surrender, Senior Supt. Antonio Yarra, Quezon provincial police director, said Cerilo and Sajid are the “most influential drug personalities” in the province because of their political connection.

Cerilo, who is in his late 50s, is the younger brother of former Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. He is also the uncle of Lucena City Mayor Roderick Alcala.

“This is a breakthrough in our anti-illegal drug campaign in the province,” Yarra said.

Yarra tagged Sajid as number 7 and Cerilo as number 9 in the city police’s drug watch list. But a source from the local police said the latest list placed Sajid as number 1; Cerilo, number 2; and another of Cerilo’s son, Totie, as number 3.

Cerilo and Sajid, who is in his early 30s, were arrested thrice on drug pushing charges but they were released several years ago.

Rep. Alcala said the three cases against his brother and nephew had been dismissed by the courts.

Yarra said Cerilo will remain under the custody of the local police due to two bench warrants, related to drug-related cases, issued by local judges.

Yarra said Sajid has no pending arrest warrant and is free to go after the routine profiling and documentation for people who surrendered under the police’s antidrug campaign, Oplan Tokhang.

Rep. Alcala said the family decided to bring Cerilo and Sajid to the police so they can refute allegations against them.

He said these have dragged the entire family into “a big scandal and [various] issues,” following media reports on the government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

Rep. Alcala said his brother and nephew are not involved in the illegal drug trade. “They are not doing it,” he said.

Mayor Alcala said the surrender of his uncle and cousin would give them the chance to clear their names and the family’s reputation.

When asked by a reporter, Cerilo denied that he was involved in the illegal drug trade.

“Matagal na akong tumigil (I have long stopped),” he said. His son declined to answer.

Rep. Alcala said Cerilo, before his surrender, had been confined in a hospital. “He (Cerilo) is still feverish,” he said.

The lawmaker said his brother needed medical attention and must be brought back to the hospital.

Yarra said Cerilo and Sajid would be under “strict monitoring” to make sure “that they really stop their illegal activities.”

Supt. Dennis de Leon, city police chief, led Cerilo, Sajid, Rep. Alcala and Mayor Alcala inside his office and held an hour of closed door meeting before they faced reporters on Sunday afternoon.