‘Mayor not high-value target in drug war’

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The Ilocos regional police office has declared Naguillian Mayor Reynaldo Flores not a high-value target in the government’s war against drugs.

As this developed, three more drug suspects, including a businessman, were killed in separate incidents in Luzon recently.

Flores was included on the first “narco list” of President Duterte and was identified as a “high-value target” on the second list.

A report submitted to PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said investigators found no evidence showing Flores a high-value target.

“I have not seen any information leading or making him a ‘high-value target.’ No case had been filed against him and no warrant had been issued for his arrest,” Ilocos police director Chief Superintendent Gregorio Pimentel told journalists the other day.

Duterte earlier accused Flores – along with Tubao town Mayor Dante Garcia, former lawmaker Eufranio Eriguel and Bauang Mayor Martin de Guz- man – of involvement in the illegal drug trade. All denied the allegations against them.

Meanwhile, businessman Dominic Tan, 41, who was said to be on the drug list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, was shot dead by an unidentified assailant on Thursday.

Tan was getting off a taxi near his residence in San Carlos Heights Baguio City when he was shot in front of his family.

He died while being treated in a hospital.

In the same day, a village councilman said to be involved in the illegal drug trade was killed as he was having a drinking session with his friends in Bani, Pangasinan.

Ryan Cabacungan was declared dead on arrival at the Western Pangasinan District Hospital in Alaminos City.

In Bulacan, Ryan Kabo was killed in an alleged shootout with police officers who conducted a sting in Norzagaray on Friday.

Kabo was allegedly included in the barangay drug list.