THE three drug personalities killed in a drug bust in Sitio Mananga 2, Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City yesterday dawn had plans to ambush police operating in their village.

That, while a top official in Central Visayas said the supply of illegal drugs will increase as the midterm election draws near.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Manuel Abrugena said an informant tipped them about suspects Norberto Larigo, Ryan Mana-ay and Clifford Garcia Rabago.

He said the suspects vowed to put up a fight against anti-narcotics operatives following the arrest of 14 drug personalities in Mananga 2 last month.

The sitio is also known as Sitio Kawatan as it is the hiding place for thieves and other criminals.

“They were notorious. They supplied illegal drugs to neighboring towns,” Abrugena said.

He said Larigo, Mana-ay and Rabago were involved in stoning the operatives in Mananga 2 two weeks ago.

Several packs of shabu and three pistols were recovered from the suspects, who reportedly opened fire when they noticed that they were dealing with the police.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office 7 Director Debold Sinas said they are identifying the new players in drug trafficking in Talisay City.

He said the old pushers may have transferred to other places and deployed new personalities to avoid detection.

He said there will be another one-time, big-time operation in Talisay City.

On the other hand, Sinas said it is possible that drug personalities will help fund some candidates’ campaign.

“Naay politician nga modawat og funds nga wala kahibawo sa background (There are politicians who accept funds even if they don’t know the background),” he said.

He had told intelligence units to monitor these politicians, including those in the narco-list.

The police official earlier supported the move of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to submit to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) a list of suspected narco-politicians.

He said the public has the right to know what kind of candidates they will be voting for in May 2019.

Sinas said the final day of the filing of certificates of candidacy, which was yesterday, was peaceful.

They will request from the Comelec the final list of candidates before they can start checking on their respective backgrounds, he said. (KAL)