Village chiefs in Talisay City may fear for their lives, but they are certainly not protectors of drug lords and have cooperated fully with the police in the campaign against illegal drugs.
“Wa ta mahadlok. Misamot hinuon ta og kaisog. Nganong apil-apilon man ta nga sila man ang namaligya? (We are not afraid. We are even more daring. Why would they include us when we are not even the sellers)?” said Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Raul Cabañero in reaction to claims by the Talisay City Police Station that some barangay officials are afraid to provide information to the authorities regarding the illegal drug trade in their respective villages for fear of reprisal.
In a phone interview, Cabañero, who is the barangay captain of Bulacao, said he has been receiving death threats for cooperating with the police in their fight against illegal drugs.
Supt. Germano Mallari, TCPO chief, said one of the challenges they met in addressing the drug problem include the non-cooperation of the barangay officials who are afraid of retaliation.
But Mallari emphasized that they have not received any information that these barangay officials serve as protectors of drug personalities.
Cabañero said barangay officials actively participate in police efforts to arrest drug personalities in the city.
Data from the TCPO show that there have been 17 arrests of drug personalities.
Last Saturday, TCPO policemen arrested a certain Minie Delfin, said to be a level 2 drug pusher in the city, during a buy-bust operation along Rabaya Street, Barangay San Roque.
Mallari said police have been looking for Delfin for quite some time now.
SPO1 Ferdinand Pablo, one of the operatives, said that a poseur buyer transacted with Delfin at that time of arrest.
Pablo said Delfin attempted to escape but was cornered by other police operatives.
Five packs of shabu and P5,000 in buy-bust money was taken from Delfin’s possession.
One big pack, one medium pack and 20 small packs of shabu were also taken from the storage box of Delfin’s motorcycle.
Total value of the contraband was pegged at P389,400.
Barangays Bulacao and San Roque were among the top three barangays where illegal drugs are prevalent, Mallari said.
Meanwhile, incoming Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas said he is yet to meet Mallari when he assumes office by high noon on June 30.
Asked if he will give the list of drug lords to Mallari, Gullas said it remains to be seen.