OFFICIALS of Barangay Tejero, Cebu City visited Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Debold Sinas Tuesday morning, October 9, to deny any involvement in the illegal drugs trade.
Their visit came four days after the arrest of “Tres Marias,” a group of three sisters involved in drug trafficking and whose base of operations is Tejero.
Sinas had said they were investigating government officials who may have links to this group.
Tejero Barangay Captain Hermogenes Galang Jr. said they are not drug protectors.
“I called for a meeting to clarify. I told the other barangay officials that we need to go see General Sinas to clear our names,” he said in Cebuano.
Galang, along with Barangay Councilors Joseph Galang, Niño Lao, Dindo Nuñez, Henry Lawas and Rudy Albaño, also submitted themselves to a surprise drug test initiated by the PRO 7.
Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention Chief Garry Lao, a former Tejero councilman, accompanied the incumbent officials and also submitted his urine sample.
Sinas welcomed the move of Galang’s group.
“I have no problem with him. He is very supportive to the police,” he said.
Tejero Councilor Jessielou Cadungog was not with the group yesterday.
Cadungog was tagged by Sinas as a drug personality following the fatal shooting of PO3 Eugene Calumba by Cadungog’s bodyguard-driver William Macaslang last July.
The police officer was on a motorcycle driven by a police asset. They were reportedly conducting surveillance on illegal drug activities in the barangay.
Macaslang has a pending homicide case for Calumba’s death.
Cadungog had claimed his driver acted in self-defense. He said Macaslang saw Calumba pull out a firearm.
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella urged the PRO 7 to conduct a thorough investigation on the allegation that there are barangay officials linked to “Tres Marias.”
“This is a matter that should be looked into because public officials are supposed to be models. They are not supposed to be the law violators. Mao nag giingon nga (That’s what people call) ‘to whom much is given, much is required’,” he said.
Labella also reminded public officials to stand by their oath of office and uphold the rule of law.
Opposition Councilor Joel Garganera, for his part, urged the police to reveal the names of the barangay officials involved.
“I believe they should name names so as not to unnecessarily drag the innocent and the entire (barangay) council as well,” he said. (KAL, RTF)