Duterte doubles reward for info on drug pushers

DAVAO CITY -- Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte raised to P10,000 the cash reward he is offering to anybody who can provide information that will lead to the arrest of a drug pusher in this city.

"Singko mil akong hatag. Pero dungagan nako karon ug another singko-mil. Wala koy labot sa pangalan kay dili ko interesado kung kinsa ang ga-report basta naa ray information. Basta tinuod ang report, muhatag ko ug diyes mil (Initially, I offered P5,000. But I will add P5,000. I don't care about the name of the one who will report as long as there is information. If the report is true, I will be giving P10,000)," Duterte said in his television program "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" aired Sunday morning.

Duterte raised the bounty as he identified Barangay 23-C as a "shabu tiangge" (drug den) due to the rampant illegal drugs trade in the area.

The vice mayor said they have been monitoring the Barangay 23-C under village chief Amilbangsa T. Manding and were able to detect the regular delivery of illegal drugs.

Duterte said authorities were also able to take photos of buyers and sellers of illegal drugs in 23-C, some of whom even onboard SUVs.

He again hit Manding for not doing anything to stop the rampant illegal drugs trade in his area. The vice mayor earlier announced that he received reports that Manding has been receiving protection money from drug dealers.

But Manding earlier voluntarily sprayed with red paints the doors of his own house, which he transformed into a boarding house, to signify that drug pushers reside there.

The village chief, together with police authorities, also started conducting proactive drug eradication operations in several villages in the city, especially in 23-C and 26-C Poblacion.

But while Duterte described Manding's act and the proactive drug eradication operation launched by police authorities as a good start, the vice mayor is still not satisfied with the barangay captain's performance.

"A barangay captain who allows the proliferation of drugs in his area... If it's really a commodity or a contraband such as drugs, you are guilty of neglect of duty. Serious neglect (of duty) and you can be charged," Duterte said.

Now, Duterte wants nothing from Manding but to personally lead the operation against illegal drugs and collar suspected pushers.

The vice mayor said unless Manding exercises his duty as a public official by eradicating illegal drugs in his area, he should quit his post.

"He should resign as barangay captain and give the authority to somebody who can do the job," Duterte said. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)