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Sunday, October 22, 2006
Davao mayor says foreign drug dealer operates in S. Mindanao
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Government authorities are not just monitoring the activities of a town mayor and policemen linked to illegal drug activities but also a big-time foreign drug dealer reportedly operating in Southern Mindanao.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in his television program said the foreigner linked to the illegal drug business is reputed to be one of the biggest illegal drug dealers in the country.
The mayor, however, did not reveal the nationality of the foreigner.
It was not also known if this foreign drug dealer is connected with the Abo-Sinsuat drug ring, which is said to be operating in major cities in Mindanao.
Just recently, Duterte made public the names of the persons believed to be members of the said drug syndicate. Among those mentioned were Parang Mayor Abu Talib and two Davao City policemen.
Talib in a separate interview denied involvement in the illegal drug trade and branded the Duterte report as purely politics.
The Parang mayor also said that information fed to Duterte and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency could have been the handiwork of his political opponents considering elections is fast approaching.
The Davao mayor admitted that it would be difficult to caught those involved in the illegal drug trade red handed but he warned against those who plan to operate drug laboratories in Davao City.
Duterte said he would not think twice in killing drug dealers once they set foot in Davao City, much so if they set up their operation and manufacturing laboratory here.
"It will be a massacre for those who plan to establish shabu laboratory here. Those persons I mentioned, I'll give them enough time to buy a ticket and board the plane out," Duterte said.
Among the names mentioned by Duterte as those involve in drug trade were Talib and two policemen assigned with the San Pedro Police Precinct, Enrique Ayao Jr. and Police Officer 2 Arnold Dechavez, who were said to be in cahoots with slain engineer Luis Francisco.
Ayao and Dechavez, who voluntarily surrendered to the Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa, chief of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division, on Thursday night were later endorsed to the Davao City Police Office.
The mayor advised other policemen to refrain from being tempted by the lure of money lest they experience the same fate as the two.
Duterte said he is willing to help any police personnel who are in financial distress for as long as they perform well.
"If you can't bear it (financial instability), they better resigned being policemen," Duterte advised. (Sun.Star Davao)
(October 22, 2006 issue)
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