■ CADUNGOG'S NEIGHBORS, PEERS VOUCH FOR HIM, ASK FOR A FAIR INVESTIGATION

Close to 2,000 neighbors and fellow workers of Tejero, Cebu City Barangay Councilor Jessielou Cadungog are asking President Rodrigo Duterte to do something about what happened to the barangay official.

They will also appeal to Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde to look into the situation and ensure a thorough and fair investigation.

In a letter with 1,949 signatures, the neighbors and fellow workers of Cadungog, who is also a labor leader, challenged Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Debold Sinas’ claim that the barangay official is involved in illegal drugs.

Cadungog serves on the board of the Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp.

“We, neighbors and fellow port workers in Barangay Tejero and the Port of Cebu, have known Kap Jessielou Cadungog for decades. He is tough like a labor leader at the port should be. Cadungog is a respected barangay official and a member of the board of directors of Opascor. But he is not a drug lord protector. He is not into illegal drugs. We vouch for Kap Cadungog,” a portion of the appeal reads.

Last July 30, Cadungog survived what he said was an attempt on his life, after his driver shot and killed the alleged gunman, who was later identified as Police Officer 3 Eugene Calumba.

Sinas, however, described Cadungog as the prime suspect in Calumba’s death.

Cadungog’s neighbors and fellow workers said that the barangay official is a staunch supporter of President Duterte and his anti-illegal drugs campaign.

“Linking Cadungog to illegal drugs only seeks to smear his reputation and justify the supposed police surveillance operation conducted by Calumba and police asset Michael Banua,” they said.