Concepcion, Tarlac – “Wala silang hiya, wala silang takot.”
Thus, said when a barangay kagawad was arrested here, morning of May 14 for peddling shabu. He is the third to barangay kagawad to be arrested for illegal drugs offense in a week.
P/Supt Luis Ventura Jr, this town’s police chief identified the latest drug pusher barangay official as Barangay Kagawad Daniel Quilala, 36, of Barangay Alfonso here.
Ventura also disclosed that Quilala has previously “surrendered” to the police being among those in the Municipal Watch List of Drug Personalities.
Just last May 8, Barangay Kagawad Noel Sanches of Brgy Sta. Rita was also arrested after he sold shabu to a police poseur buyer.
Earlier, Brgy. Kagawad Gil Pascua, also of Brgy. Sta. Rita was entrapped in a buy-bust operation.
In an interview, Mayor Andy Lacson revealed his “disgust” on public officials who are into drugs.
“Wala silang (government officials involved in drugs) hiya, dapat kaming mga elected official ang magpakita ng tamang ehemplo sa mga tao. Sinisira nila ang imahe ng pamahalaan,” said Lacson.
“Nakapagtataka, bakit wala silang takot na makulong o mapatay? Anong meron sa shabu na pinagpapalit nila sa kanilang buhay at pagkatao? Kahit sino pa ang maki-usap sa akin, basta nahuli sa drugs pasensiyahan, hinding-hindi ko sila papaboran o tutulungan,” also said Lacson.
For his part, Ventura, who assumed as police chief only last month, said, “our priority are those in the HVT (High Value Target) list and those who are big time drug dealers. We will continue our intensified efforts to totally eliminate illegal drugs in this town,” said Ventura.
Quilala and Sanchez are presently detained at this town’s police station and were both charged of peddling and possessing illegal drugs (Sections 5 and 11, RA 9165).
Peddling illegal drugs is a non-bailable offense and carries a penalty of 30 years imprisonment, or death if the death penalty is revived./Nelson Bolos