TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija – At least 10 mayors and vice mayors are being linked to the illegal drugs trade in Central Luzon in a new list that the police got hold of for validation, a top police official said on Thursday.
Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, Police Regional Office-3 (PRO-3) director, said the list also includes about 100 policemen in the region.
These new names, he said, might be included in President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s next list.
Aquino made the disclosure after his speech before 1,122 drug pushers and users who took their oath at Talavera National High School gym here.
Aside from the politicians, Aquino said, about 100 policemen of varied ranks are also being investigated in the region.
He lauded Talavera Mayor Nerivi Santod-martinez for providing a rehabilitation facility where surrenderees will undergo spiritual development, skills development and social responsibility activities.
In an apparent scare stunt, Aquino told the surrenderees that include women, that the anti-drug enforcers will now be equipped with high powered gun.
“Not only 9mm, but also M16 will hit their bodies,” Aquino said, referring to suspects who will fight with the enforcers.
“Do you want to read in a newspaper that police are being killed by pushers? Of course, we would not allow that to happen,” he said. (PNA)/LAP/ZST/MEG