CH to use intel funds for PDEA, AFP

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is willing to spend his intelligence funds to provide the needs of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) personnel and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that will be deployed in Barangay Ermita.

This was after he committed to clean up the barangay from the illegal drug trade.

"For whatever it is, they are going to use my intelligence and discretionary funds. So, we are going to assign eight personnel there in Barangay Ermita. We will provide whatever they need. We have to clean up Ermita," he told reporters.

City Budget Officer Marietta Gumia said Osmeña has P1 million as intelligence funds.

Starting today, there will be eight AFP personnel in the said barangay to work with the PDEA agents in suppressing illegal drugs.

In a separate interview, PDEA-7 Regional Director Yogi Felimon Ruiz told The FREEMAN that it is a welcome development that Osmeña is willing to provide their operational needs.

"That is a very welcome move. It will surely help in the anti-drug campaign sa PDEA kay aside from limited atoang manpower, limited pud ang atoang resources. So, mas matabangan ta. Ang atong resources mas ma-focus nato sa high-valued targets," he said over the phone.

He mentioned that they specifically need vehicles and money for their buybust operations.

Ruiz admitted that the agency continue to receive reports that there are still drug users and pushers in the barangay.

"Naa man gihapon bisa'g gipahingusgan na nato ang atoang campaign. Padayon raman gihapon na sila sa ilahang illegal activities," he added.

In a separate interview, suspended village Chief Felicisimo "Imok" Rupinta said he is in favor with Osmeña’s move to assign PDEA agents in his barangay to battle illegal drug trade.

He, however, disagrees with the move to bring in AFP personnel because the residents may misinterpret it considering that the soldiers carry long firearms.

"Akong nakita no nga kaya mana sa komunidad, unya coordination sa taga PDEA. Dili man siguro angay nga magbutang ta og detachment sa army. Magbutang ta'g strict battle gear makadaot mana sa mga bata. Ma-tense ang mga bata, lain tan-awon. Dili maayo tan-awon mag-rovingroving nga naay dagkong armas," Rupinta said.

With this development, he is asking Osmeña to help him in the immediate lifting of his suspension so that he can help with the concerns in the barangay, not just on the illegal drug problem but the salary of the workers.

"Kung naminaw siya ang akoang hangyo, tabangi ko nga ma-lift lang ang akoang suspension. Pagkahuman motabang ko kinsa iyahang padaganon sa barangay, kinsa iyahang ituboy nga barangay captain. Akong duda pamolitika man gud na ba ang hinungdan. Kay sa akong tan-aw, iyang mga tawo wa nakadaog samtang naa ko. Dili lang ta i-terrorize ang barangay," he added.

Rupinta is affiliated with former mayor Michael Rama, whose name has been dragged by President Rodrigo Duterte as a drug protector.

The suspended village chief also confirmed Ruiz’s observation that there are a number of users and pushers who came back in doing their illegal activities.

He said most of those who went back to the illegal drug trade are from Sitio Bato.

Earlier, Osmeña asked the president for military personnel to help secure the city.

The Office of the President has approved the request.

Starting today, about 88 AFP personnel will be designated in the different public areas such as terminals, ports, malls, main roads and mountain barangays.