“We have no list of any mayor being implicated in illegal drugs,” said DILG regional director Florida Dijan in a press conference commemorating Community Relations Month here.
Dijan, however, stressed that Pres. Duterte must have other sources of information, although he has not revealed whether some Central Luzon mayors are among the 23 still unidentified mayors who, he said, are allegedly involved in the drug trade.
Earlier, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald Dela Rosa said the information on the 23 mayors was from verified intelligence reports received by the President. He also noted that illegal drugs pass through both seaports and airports in Central Luzon.
But Supt. Oscar Jacildo of the regional information officer based in Camp Olivas also said the regional police have yet to know the identity of the mayors cited by Duterte.
In his first trip outside Manila since he was installed PNP chief, Dela Rosa visited Central Luzon, one of the focus areas of the PNP’s anti- drug war.
Central Luzon accounted for the second highest number of suspected drug dealers killed. From June 27 to July 3, PNP figures show 31 have been killed by the police in the region, after Calabarzon and Mimaropa region where 43 have been killed.
Central Luzon also ranked third with 23 individuals arrested for links to drugs.
Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, regional PNP officer- in-charge, said there are at least a hundred policemen in Central Luzon who could be involved in drug trafficking.
Jacildo said the regional police are still waiting instructions from “the hierarchy” on what to do with the 100 cops.
“Cops who are mere users can surrender and undergo rehabilitation. Later they can still assume their police position, but they will have to be monitored because of the possibility of relapse,” he said.
