Suspect brgy officials must lead anti-drug campaign

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

BARANGAY officials with alleged links to suspected illegal drug syndicates must prove that they are not in any way involved in the illegal drug trade by joining the drive against the menace, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-6).

PDEA regional head Paul Ledesma said eight of 12 barangay election candidates alleged to have links to drug syndicates won in last Monday’s polls.

He declined to identify these barangay officials though.

In Iloilo City, key officials in Brgys. Bakhaw in Mandurriao, Desamparados in Jaro, and Tanza Esperanza and Malipayon in City Proper are being tagged to illegal drug operations.

Ledesma said the outcome of the elections will pose a problem to their campaign illegal drugs, particularly in buy-busts and raids.

Ledesma said if the barangay officials concerned want to clear their names, they should take the lead in combating the illegal drug trade.