More narco-politicians
MisOr-PNP monitors more than 4 village officials in the province’s drugs watchlist
THE top official of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Police Office (MisOr-PPO) on Monday, May 7, said the province has more village officials involved in the illegal drug activities, not just four as earlier announced by the antinarcotics agency.
Provincial police director Senior Superintendent Rolando Destura said they are currently monitoring the movements of more village chiefs and councilmen who are possibly engaging in the illegal drug business.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement AgencyNorthern Mindanao (PDEA-10) announced that of the additional 22 incumbent narco-politicians in the region, four are from Misamis Oriental.
But, Destura said he is unsure if Laid was among the four mentioned by the regional anti-narcotics agency.
“More than four pero dili gyud ingon ana kadaghan ug dili lang mga kapitan apil pud mga kagawad. Padayon atong monitoring ug naghulat lang ta sa timing,’Destura said.
Over the weekend, police arrested Hemito Laid Jr., the barangay chairman of Patag, Opol town after sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, known as shabu, and a fragmentation grenade were seized from him through a lawful search.
Laid is seeking for reelection in the May 14 village and youth polls. He is facing illegal possession of explosives and drug charges.
Destura said the police have long been monitoring the activities of Laid and the transactions of his drug network.
The provincial police director said Laid belongs to an organized drug group, which gave authorities a hard time to penetrate.
“Matagal na ang monitoring natin kaso mahirap pasukin kasi well organized yung group niya kaya,”Destura said.
Destura also confirmed that Laid, a high value target, did not heed with the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign and continued his illicit drug activities.
“Yung mga village officials na nasa list natin they were thinking na nakalimutan na sila ng police at PDEA at once na mamonitor na malalim na yung involvement gagawan talaga namin ng paraan na mahuli,”he added.