SOME CARCAR OFFICIALS BEING MONITORED FOR ALLEGED TIES WITH DRUGS

Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura said he suspects there are at least three government officials in the southern city who are in the illegal drug trade. He plans to meet next week with Director Yogi Filemon Ruiz of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to take up the city’s narcotics problem. Apura also confirmed he had received reports that Elmer Padin, a former barangay councilman whom a PDEA team shot and killed last Monday, had been involved in drugs. Padin was tagged as the one who supplied drugs to another man who was recently arrested for allegedly abusing a four-month-old baby in Barangay Perrelos, Carcar. Ruiz, for his part, said that PDEA 7 is monitoring two barangay officials in that city, over suspicions they are involved in illegal drugs. He invited the Carcar City mayor to visit his office.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 said it is monitoring two barangay officials in Carcar City for their alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

PDEA 7 Director Yogi Filemon Ruiz invited Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura to visit his office so they can discuss ways to improve anti-drug efforts, including those elected officials allegedly involved in the shabu trade.

"There are so many ways to support us. You can visit our office so that we can discuss how you can support us, dili lang sa storya (Not just in words)," said Ruiz.

He said that the arrest of some barangay officials from Carcar indicated that the city is affected by illegal drug problem.

Last Monday, Elmer Padin, a former barangay councilor of Poblacion 3 was killed after he allegedly tried to shoot it out with

the PDEA 7 operatives.

Sought for comment, Apura said there are three government officials in Carcar who are engaged in the illegal drug trade. But he refused to name them or reveal their positions.

The mayor said that he received reports that Elmer was involved in illegal drugs.

“Nakadungog ko og report ani niya nga mogamit siya unya mo

baligya-baligya sad,” he told Superbalita in a phone interview.

Apura said that he plans to meet with Ruiz next week.

He said he has discussed the matter with Chief Insp. Jose Liddawa, Carcar Police Station chief, and they agreed to submit a list of illegal drug personalities in Carcar to PDEA 7.

Elmer's family, however, cried foul over his death. They said it was a case of a rubout. Ruiz denied such allegation.

"They killed my father mercilessly. He didn't have a chance against them and their armalites," Jomer, Elmer's daughter, cried.

Jomer said that the operatives also stole at least P100,000 cash and other valuables.