CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama yesterday challenged city police chief Noli Romana to go after those reportedly involved in "narco-politics."
This as the city police confirmed that the eight barangays named by former South District Congressman Tomas Osmeña as hotly contested villages are also drug-affected areas in Cebu City. They, however, refused to confirm reports of narco-politics and said that investigations on the reports are still underway.
Narco-politics is defined as "the abuse of power to achieve wealth through drug trade and the abuse of power to achieve power, using corruption to seal political alliances."
"Narco-politics has been discussed a long time ago and the challenge is with the police and the police chief (Romana),"Rama said. "I had given marching orders to go after the snatchers and run after the drug lords, as well as petty crimes like illegal gambling," he added.
Osmeña earlier said that there are barangays, mostly in the South District, where the candidates for the coming barangay elections are allegedly funded by drug pushers. Among the barangays the former congressman named were Duljo-Fatima, Calamba, Labangon, Day-as, Ermita, Pasil, Sawang Calero and Suba.
Chief Insp. Romeo Santander of the City Intelligence Branch said that based on validation, all barangays that Osmeña mentioned are drug-affected areas. This was also confirmed by the Regional Intelligence Division (RID)-7.
"It's an open book nga ang mga lugar drug-affected barangays," Santander said in a press conference.
He added that they have received reports of political aspirants who are believed to have been involved in illegal activities or being supported by people running illegal activities but these need evidence and have to be validated.
"We have information of drug lords, even their scope of distribution but there are factors to be considered like asa siya dakpon kay he is not staying in one place and he is no longer hands on with the operation," Santander explained.
He further said they even included in their validation some erring cops involved in illegal activities.
Meanwhile, Rama said it was unfair for former mayor Osmeña to label the barangays he mentioned as having drug problems.
"Nagmention siya nga involved ning mga barangays sa drugs, basi nakalimot siya nga na mayor siya sa Sugbo. Naglibog lang ko kay nilansar siya (Osmeña) sa south as congressman tapos gi mention ang mga barangay as if they are all guilty, it's not fair sa barangay," Rama said.
The mayor urged the barangay captains to stand and answer Osmeña's allegations.
"I wish the barangay captains would stand and answer him because it's not good to just accuse. Well, he is very good in accusing," Rama added.
RID officer-in-charge Supt. Paul Labra earlier disclosed that two drug lords are operating in Cebu City and Cebu Province.
He said that three barangays - two in Cebu Province and one in Cebu City - are being monitored for narco-politics.
The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7, however, is not yet putting any barangay under the Election Watchlist Areas (EWAS) as they are still validating all 3,003 barangays region-wide. – (FREEMAN)
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Rama to CCPO: Go after “narco- politicos”
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