Tumulak: We respect PDEA, PNP decision

Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak, deputy mayor over police matters, respects the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency's (PDEA) decision not to divulge the names of barangay officials allegedly involved in illegal drug trade.

“Well, dili gyud ta kapugos sa PDEA kay wala may list nga gipakanaog and for list of verification also nga gikan sa PNP (Philippine National Police),” he said.

For his part, he prefers to release the names of the suspected barangay officials involved in illegal drug trade so that they will be given an opportunity to explain their side.

Tumulak said he received reports that there are two south district barangay officials allegedly involved in illegal drug trade.

He said the two barangay officials are active in the campaign against illegal drugs.

“Kini nga names nitabang ni sa police sa kampanya batok sa illegal nga druga, sila mismo ang mo-report sa police without knowing utro pud diay sila,” Tumulak said.

Right now, he said Cebu City Police Office is verifying the matter.

“Ato lang gihangyo ang atong botante sa kabarangayan nga sutaon gyud ang kandidato basi na sa obserbasyon sa ilahang community. If in case makita nila nga naay participation ang barangay officials nga molansad sa barangay election, mas maayo nga dili nalang sila botaran,” Tumulak said.

Meanwhile, the PDEA–7 Director Emerson Margate said he is still waiting for the go signal of President Rodrigo Duterte to reveal the names of narco-politicians in Central Visayas.

He said that as much as they wanted to reveal it, they still wait for the directives from the President himself.

“Wala pa tayong directive na mag-publish ng mga barangay officials na notary involved sa illegal drugs, sabi nga ni Director General Aquino, ‘if we have our way, gusto namin na ipublish pero iyun na nga ay still need ng approval sa President…If we have the go signal mas maganda talaga na para malaman kaagad ng tao,” said Margate.

He added that more than 20 barangay officials in the region who were on the list of narco-politicians were already able to file their Certificate of Candidacy (COC) before the COMELEC.

Previously, Police Senior Superintendent Edgar Alan Okubo, Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) director, revealed that there were around 20 barangay officials in Cebu Province involved in illegal drugs who already filed their candidacies.

Margate also said that they expect the increase of numbers as the COC's filing ends today.

“Pinakiusap natin sa mga botante na sana huwag ng iboto itong mga to ay alam naman ng mga constituents na ito si barangay captain, kagawad ay involved sana maging wise na tayo na bumoto,” Margate said.

He said that these narco-politicians are even using money from their illegal activities to fund their election campaign which is very disappointing.

“Iyon po talaga. Ginagamit nila ng pondo sa illegal drugs para unang-una ma-gain nila ang power. Kapag nasa power na sila ay ma-continue ang pag-amas ng wealth through illegal drugs,” Margate added.

Meanwhile, lawyer Veronico Petalcorin, acting regional director of COMELEC-7, said that there is a possibility that revealing names of barangay officials involved in illegal drugs may create chaos.

“Matan-awan pud na nato, that is usa na ka hagit. Kung unsaon na pag-treat ana nga dapita kay basin gamiton unya na ang listahan. Kay usahay baya masayop pud ang listahan kay naay nasayop, gituyo og sayop, naa say tinuod ang uban niundang na. Let us be careful with that. Kung tan-aw ninyo nga involved ni sila nganong maghuwat paman gyod, ngano inyo paman gyod nga botaran?” said Petalcorin.