GOVERNMENT officials from the Cordillera region involved in drugs have surrendered to police.
The Police Regional Office- Cordillera reported a total of 124 government officials in the region surrendered as part of the Oplan Tokhang.
Police Regional Office - Cordillera regional director and Chief Supt. Elmo Sarona said most of the surrenderees submitted themselves to the police to clear their names while others admitted using illegal substances.
Police records show there is one board member, mayor, barangay captain and four teachers in Mountain Province who have surrendered to authorities while in Abra, there are two mayors, a former mayor, five Sangguninang Bayan member, 18 barangay captain, 22 barangay kagawad and two government employees who yielded to authorities.
In Apayao, a Sangguninang Bayan member, two barangay captains, 20 brgy kagawad, five tanods, 16 gov’t employee, two public teachers and two CAFGU submit to police while in Kalinga, one Sangguninang Bayan member, one barangay captain, five kagawad, one tanod and one gov’t employee gave in to authorities recently.
Baguio City on the other hand had two barangay kagawads who surrendered while in Benguet, there are four barangay kagawad who give in to police.
In Ifugao, one Sangguninang Bayan member, one former Sangguninang Bayan member, one barangay captain and one Kagawad submitted to police in the region.
The 124 officials from the executive to barangay levels have been closely monitored by the police to make sure they do not return to the illegal drug trade.
Provincial directors have also been ordered to intensify efforts to cleanse the country from the illegal drug crisis.
During the visit of PNP Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa at Camp Dangwa, he authorized Sarona to relieve non performing provincial directors.